PHILIPSBURG:--- November 2025. Kadaster St. Maarten is moving forward with plans to establish a Cables and Lines Information Center (CLIC), a major step toward safer and more coordinated underground infrastructure management on the island.

The initiative follows recent discussions between Kadaster St. Maarten's Director, Benjamin Ortega, and senior representatives of Kadaster Netherlands, including Vincent Siegmund (Director, Operations, Services and Registration), Caroline Groot (Product Manager, KLIC), and Mathilde Molendijk (Program Manager, Caribbean Netherlands).

The meeting served as an introduction between both organisations’ management teams and focused on exchanging expertise on the Dutch KLIC system, which provides a secure national portal for digital information on cables and pipelines. Drawing on the Netherlands’ successful model and guided by international best practices such as the UK’s National Underground Asset Register, Kadaster St. Maarten aims to implement a localised version of CLIC by 2026, in close collaboration with the Ministry of VROMI.

To formalize this cooperation, Kadaster St. Maarten and various relevant stakeholders are finalising a Memorandum of Understanding outlining shared objectives for CLIC’s establishment. The agreement designates Kadaster as the official registry authority for all underground infrastructure and as the custodian of the national Base Infrastructure Ma,p the island’s single source of authoritative spatial data for planning, permitting, and development.

“The CLIC initiative will allow all utility and infrastructure stakeholders to access accurate, up-to-date information before excavation, minimising damage risks and improving coordination across the island,” said Mr. Ortega. “This is an important step toward a more digital, sustainable, and data-driven land administration system for Sint Maarten.”

The upcoming MOU also envisions enhancing data sharing between government departments, utilities, and key partners, paving the way for more integrated spatial planning and climate-resilient infrastructure management.

Further working sessions will continue into 2026 as Kadaster St. Maarten refines the system’s governance model, technical framework, and stakeholder engagement strategy ahead of full implementation.

The Bonaire Human Rights Organization (BHRO) proudly announces its participation in the COPPPAL International Observers Delegation for the New York General Elections of 4th November 2025 hosted by SDA. This landmark event marks a historic moment, as BHRO joined distinguished representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean to observe one of the most closely watched elections in recent U.S. history.
This is the first time in history that an international delegation has observed a New York General Election, showing the people of Bonaire how important the work of the Bonaire Human Rights Organization is bringing their voice to the global stage, and making international contacts in every field to help the development of Bonaire.
The 2025 New York mayoral race has drawn worldwide attention, featuring three major candidates representing distinct political visions:
Andrew Cuomo, former Governor of New York, running as an Independent - Zohran Mamdani, progressive Democratic candidate and State Assembly member - Curtis Sliwa, representing the Republican Party
The race was described as a defining moment for the city’s political future, testing the balance between traditional power structures and emerging grassroots movements.
Following the official results confirming Zohran Mamdani’s victory, New York has entered a period of political transformation and social reflection. His win—making him the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor—has been hailed by many as a triumph for diversity, equity, and progressive reform. However, it has also triggered widespread upheaval and debate across the city’s political, business, and media landscapes.
Several establishment organizations and corporate leaders have voiced concern over Mamdani’s ambitious platform, which includes rent freezes, free public transportation, universal childcare, and expanded social programs. Political analysts describe this as a “political earthquake” that challenges the dominance of traditional power brokers in New York.
Meanwhile, grassroots and minority communities have celebrated the outcome as a victory for inclusion and representation, seeing in Mamdani’s leadership a reflection of America’s growing multicultural identity. Yet, his campaign and victory have also sparked divisive reactions, including Islamophobic and xenophobic rhetoric from far-right groups, and unease among moderate Democrats worried about the city’s economic direction under his leadership.
For the Bonaire Human Rights Organization, this election and its aftermath represent more than a local political shift—it highlights global challenges surrounding equity, representation, and the right to self-determination. As BHRO continues to defend the rights of Bonaire’s people and other small territories, witnessing such democratic transitions reinforces the importance of inclusive governance and respect for human dignity in all societies.
BHRO’s participation as an accredited observer reflects Bonaire’s expanding presence on the international stage, symbolizing solidarity with representative democratic processes and human rights advocacy worldwide.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, November 1, 2025, the Sint Maarten Youth Parliament continued its 2025 Annual Interscholastic Debate Competition (AIDC). This week's contest features four schools: Milton Peters College, St. Maarten Academy, St. Dominic High School, and Caribbean International Academy.

The first debate featured St. Dominic High against St. Maarten Academy, with St. Dominic defending the moot: “Schools have a moral obligation to ban or severely restrict the use of generative AI tools to protect students from the risks of misinformation, bias, and data privacy issues..” St. Maarten Academy emerged victorious in that contest. The Best Speaker title was awarded to Tyrique Walsh, the second speaker from St. Dominic High School.

The second debate featured Milton Peters College against Caribbean International Academy, with Academy defending the moot: “Prioritizing the full inclusion of students with disabilities in all school activities can negatively impact the academic and social experience of other students.” Milton Peters College emerged victorious in that contest. The Best Speaker title was awarded to Jada Smith, the rebuttal from Milton Peters College.

The competition continues the following Saturday, November 15 at 6:30 pm, with two debates. The first debate will feature Milton Peters College and St. Dominic High. St. Dominic High  will defend the moot: “Every educational institution should be required to give students thorough instruction on online privacy and digital rights, and safe technology use.”

In the second debate, Caribbean International Academy will compete against St. Maarten Academy, defending the moot: “The preservation of cultural heritage should not be the burden of our academic institutions.”

The debates take place in Room 202 at the University of St. Martin. Admission is US$2.00, and refreshments will be available for purchase. Come out and support your favourite team!

LITTLE BAY POND:--- On Sunday, November 2nd, St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) partnered with the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten to host a community clean-up, which gathered 65 volunteers. From 7:00 am to 9:00 am, volunteers donned gloves and picked up garbage littering the roadside and the banks of Little Bay Pond, accumulating 5 truckloads. Throughout the clean-up, volunteers discovered abandoned car parts and industrial equipment, as well as countless empty glass/plastic bottles and an excessive amount of Styrofoam food containers. These waste materials pose a danger to the ecosystem and especially to the animals that inhabit the pond.

The event aimed to restore and preserve one of the island’s key ecological sites. It reinforced SMMC’s commitment to protecting Blue Forest ecosystems, a value that directly inspired the interior design concept of the St. Maarten General Hospital (SMGH). The hospital’s focus on community, culture, and the environment drives meaningful projects that enhance the overall well-being of the island and its people.
At the end of the clean-up, hosts from the Nature Foundation led volunteers on a bird-watching tour to showcase the various birds at Little Bay Pond.
SMMC and the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten thank the faculty and students of Learning Unlimited, the students of St. Dominic High School, the clients and group leaders of Sr. Basilia Center, the Teen Times members, the Belair and Cay Hill Communities, as well as SMMC staff volunteers for their vital contributions to the success of this event.
SMMC and the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten urge citizens of St. Maarten to refrain from littering and to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible, as poor waste management affects not only wildlife but also the quality of life for all island inhabitants.