~Recruitment for new Sint Maarten Office Director underway~

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) announces the appointment of Raquel Lo Fo Wong, current Director of the CBCS Sint Maarten Office, as Conduct Supervision Division Manager effective January 1, 2026. In this new role, she will continue her career within the organization, applying her knowledge and expertise to strengthen the CBCS’s supervisory domain further.
Since her appointment as Director of the CBCS Sint Maarten Office in 2019, she has built constructive relationships with stakeholders and partners in the financial sector. The Board of Directors expresses its appreciation for her valuable contribution and wishes her every success in her new role.
Meanwhile, the recruitment process for a new director has begun. The CBCS is seeking a candidate with substantial leadership experience and a strong background in the financial sector. The full vacancy announcement is available on the CBCS website at: https://www.centralbank.cw/about-the-bank/job-openings. The succession process will be carefully managed to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of operations.

Willemstad, November 12, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN

Simpson Bay:---  Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company N.V. (PJIAE) proudly joined the celebration of the 66th St. Maarten’s Day, beginning the morning with participation in the Around-the-Island Relay Race. This marked the first time an official PJIAE team took part in the island’s beloved community event, demonstrating teamwork, pride, and the airport’s strong connection to the wider St. Maarten community.
Following the early morning race, celebrations continued at the airport terminal, where both arriving passengers and PJIAE employees were treated to freshly prepared Johnny Cakes and the uplifting sounds of steel pan music. Ladies dressed in traditional attire warmly welcomed travelers, creating a vibrant and authentic display of St. Maarten’s culture and hospitality.

The day’s activities were coordinated by Devon Skeete from our Commercial Department, with the Corporate Communications Department leading the organization and ensuring a memorable and festive atmosphere for all.

“It is always our pleasure to engage our guests and valued employees through meaningful cultural
expressions,” stated the PJIAE Corporate Communications Department. “As the gateway to our island,
we take great pride in showcasing the warmth and traditions that define St. Maarten, the Friendly
Island.”

Princess Juliana International Airport remains committed to fostering community spirit and celebrating the cultural identity that unites its staff, passengers, and the people of St. Maarten

The publication of a new study, Mapping Caribbean Researchers, reveals a vibrant yet often overlooked community of researchers and knowledge professionals connected to the six islands of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom: Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius.

The study, conducted by local researchers Renske Pin and Steffen van Heijningen with financial support from the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK), shows that the region represents a true treasure chest of researchers and academic knowledge. This knowledge community is not limited to the islands themselves but extends into a broad and active diaspora.

Nearly 400 researchers participated in the online survey. The topics and content of the questionnaire were co-defined through focus group sessions with more than 70 local academics and knowledge professionals, who jointly identified the main themes relevant for strengthening and making visible the Caribbean research community.

The findings reveal a large, diverse, and highly educated field. No less than 38% of respondents hold a PhD, 13% are currently pursuing one, and another 22% intend to start a PhD trajectory. The community includes not only university-based researchers but also independent scholars, visiting academics, and members of the Caribbean diaspora who remain actively engaged with the islands.

The results highlight a community with high geographical mobility, multilingualism, and cultural diversity. Researchers often work across islands and borders, maintain close ties with both the Netherlands and the Caribbean region, and cover a wide range of disciplines—from social development, culture, and education to health, governance, and the environment. Much of their work is practice-oriented and socially impactful.

At the same time, the study identifies several structural challenges that constrain the continuity and impact of research, such as limited access to funding, data, and institutional support, insecure employment and income conditions (low income levels, with only 50% having a pension plan), high travel and logistics costs, and barriers to building sustainable collaborations.

The researchers therefore advocate for a Caribbean Researchers Portal—a digital platform that improves the visibility and accessibility of researchers and their work, facilitates collaboration, and strengthens the Caribbean knowledge ecosystem.

Pin and Van Heijningen express their sincere gratitude to the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations for the financial support of this special project, which contributes to strengthening knowledge about and within the Kingdom. According to the researchers, such knowledge is not only important for the islands themselves, but also for the quality of policymaking within the Kingdom. “We found an incredible reservoir of expertise—highly educated, internationally oriented researchers deeply rooted in their communities. With modest but targeted investments in coordination, funding, and digital infrastructure, this ecosystem could make an even greater contribution to policy and knowledge development across the Kingdom,” the researchers note.

The report concludes that strengthening local and regional knowledge infrastructures is essential for an inclusive and sustainable future. Read the summary and results at: www.tinyurl.com/ReportMappingCaribResearchers

PHILIPSBURG:--- On November 9, 2025, members of the Alpha Team stationed at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) arrested a female suspect identified as R.M.N., 58 years of age, who was born in Cameroon.
The suspect was found in possession of a false passport from Guatemala, which she used to travel to Sint Maarten. She was taken into custody and remains detained pending the ongoing investigation.
The Immigration and Border Protection Services (IBP), in collaboration with the Alpha Team, continue to scrutinize and investigate cases involving falsified travel documents carefully. These joint efforts aim to ensure the integrity of Sint Maarten’s borders and the safety of all travelers.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing.

KPSM Press Release.