PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an Urgent Public meeting on May 29, 2026.
The Public meeting is scheduled for Friday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) will be in attendance.
The agenda points are:
1. Incoming documents
2. Advice on a Report from the Committee of Parlatino Matters regarding the First Vice Chairmanship of a Parlatino Committee (IS/962/2025-2026 dated April 15, 2026)
3. Ratification of admission of the Parliament of Sint Maarten as an Associate Member of ParlAmericas (IS/1107/2025-2026 dated May 27, 2026)
4. The lack of confidence in the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA) (IS/988/2025-2026 dated April 21, 2026)
Agenda point 4 was requested by MP C.L. Wever, MP V.C. Jansen-Webster, and MP F.A. Meyers

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx

The OECS Commission has officially launched the second call for proposals for Window 2 of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme, creating exciting new opportunities for collaboration, expansion, and sustainable growth within the Blue Economy across Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Launched virtually on Friday, May 22, 2026, Window 2 of the programme supports Value Chain Groups operating within the fisheries, coastal tourism, and waste management sectors. Eligible Value Chain Groups can receive grant funding ranging from USD $100,000.00 to USD $150,000.00 to strengthen operations, increase productivity, improve sustainability, and create greater economic opportunities within the OECS Blue Economy.

The programme, implemented under the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) initiative, builds on the success of Window 1, which has already transformed the lives and businesses of individual MSMEs throughout the region.

Senior Grants Advisor at UBEC/OECS, Kyle Garnes, highlighted the importance of collaboration among MSMEs throughout the OECS.

“Value Chain Groups are central to the success of the OECS Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme because they empower MSMEs to collaborate, strengthen market linkages, and create greater value across the OECS Blue Economy. By working together, MSMEs can improve competitiveness, build resilience, and unlock sustainable growth opportunities that no single enterprise could achieve alone. Collaboration is how we transform individual MSMEs into stronger, more connected blue economy ecosystems.”

A Value Chain Group consists of three or more MSMEs working together within the same sector to strengthen products, services, and market access.

In the fisheries sector, for example, a fisher may collaborate with a seafood processor and a restaurant or exporter. In waste management, a waste collector may partner with a recycler and a manufacturer that uses recycled materials. Within coastal tourism, a tour operator may work alongside a boat captain and a local accommodation provider to improve visitor experiences and expand tourism opportunities.

The program is encouraging eligible MSMEs not to delay and to begin preparing applications immediately, emphasizing that the grants can significantly improve businesses, create jobs, and strengthen livelihoods throughout the OECS.

Kasha Ragbersingh is Managing Director of Coastal Tourism Enterprise, Glamping Grenada. Her business benefited from Window 1 support. She explained how the programme helped improve the sustainability of her business.

“We are in a very harsh environment and water conservation is a very important part of our operations, the grant has allowed us to add on an additional 2000 gallons of water. Not just any water, we are literally harvesting rainwater. So this will allow us to service places such as our pool, service our garden area and not tax the actual water system.”
Similarly, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines kayaking business owner Cenus Hinds reflected on the positive impact the grant had on his operations.

“One of the things that we did not have before is a support vessel that would follow the kayaks along or would follow the paddle boards, but when we got the grant, that was one of the major things that we wanted. The grant enabled us to get a 14-foot dinghy, and we were able to get an electric engine.”
To qualify for Window 2, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Be legally registered and operating in Grenada, Saint Lucia, or Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Operate as a Value Chain Group consisting of three or more MSMEs
Operate within the fisheries, coastal tourism, or waste management sectors
Provide business registration documentation or articles of incorporation
Have been in operation for at least two years, supported by financial statements or bank statements for the previous two years
Have fewer than 50 employees and annual revenues below USD $1,000,000.00
Demonstrate commitment to growth, innovation, sustainability, and job creation
Demonstrate the ability to articulate credible market demand for products and services
Avoid activities that lead to significant environmental degradation or negative environmental impacts
Applications will also be evaluated based on relevance, innovation, scalability, sustainability, environmental impact, and the overall expected benefit to the MSME sector.

The OECS Commission is encouraging entrepreneurs, cooperatives, women-led businesses, youth entrepreneurs, and emerging Blue Economy stakeholders to seize this opportunity and strengthen regional collaboration through Value Chain partnerships.

Additional information on the second call for proposals can be accessed via the Window 2 Matching Grant webpage at: https://bit.ly/4dh0ZX9

For additional information:
​📧 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Application submissions should be sent to:
​📩 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, has taken note of the increasing number of reports and discussions circulating on social media regarding alleged cases of labor abuse and unfair treatment of workers on Sint Maarten.
The Minister stated that while social media has become an important platform for individuals to share concerns and experiences, it is equally important that formal complaints regarding labor abuse, unfair dismissal, unsafe working conditions, unpaid wages, intimidation, or other labor-related violations are officially reported through the proper channels within the Ministry of VSA.
Minister Brug reminded both employers and employees that each has rights and responsibilities under Sint Maarten's labor laws and emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful, lawful, and professional working relationships.
“Employees deserve to work in safe and fair environments, while employers also deserve professional and responsible employees who respect workplace rules and procedures. The relationship between employers and employees must be built on mutual respect, fairness, and compliance with the laws of Sint Maarten,” Minister Brug stated.
The Minister is therefore encouraging employees who believe they are victims of labor abuse or labor-related violations to officially report these matters to the relevant departments within the Ministry of VSA, including the Department of Labor, the Division of Social Services and Labor Affairs at the Government Administration Building and the Labor Inspectorate at W.G. Buncamper Road #33, Vineyard Office Park, so that the appropriate investigations and interventions can take place where necessary.
Minister Brug also emphasized that formal reporting is important to ensure that complaints are properly documented, assessed, and handled in accordance with the applicable laws and procedures.
The Ministry of VSA remains committed to protecting workers’ rights, promoting fair labor practices, and ensuring healthy and lawful working conditions across Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), is joining the global observance of World No Tobacco Day 2026 on Sunday, May 31, by highlighting the dangers associated with tobacco and nicotine addiction and encouraging the community to make healthier lifestyle choices.

This year’s theme, established by the World Health Organization (WHO), is “Unmask the Appeal – Countering Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction” under the campaign hashtag #TobaccoExposed.

The theme focuses on raising awareness about how tobacco and nicotine industries design products to attract and addict young people.

According to WHO, approximately 15 million adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 already use e-cigarettes worldwide, while an estimated 40 million adolescents in the same age group use tobacco products. In countries where data is available, adolescents are reportedly nine times more likely to vape than adults. WHO warns that tobacco kills up to half of its users who do not quit.

The tobacco epidemic remains one of the world’s leading public health threats, causing more than seven million deaths annually in addition to long-term illness, disability, and suffering associated with tobacco-related diseases.

All forms of tobacco use are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco products. These include cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, waterpipe tobacco, heated tobacco products, roll-your-own tobacco, smokeless tobacco products, and electronic nicotine delivery systems.

WHO further notes that approximately 80 percent of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illnesses and deaths is greatest. Tobacco use also contributes to poverty by diverting household spending away from essential needs such as food, shelter, education, and healthcare.

To combat the global tobacco epidemic, WHO Member States adopted the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2003. Today, 183 countries are Parties to the treaty and continue to work toward reducing tobacco use and protecting public health through stronger tobacco control measures and public awareness campaigns.

CPS encourages smokers and nicotine users to seek assistance if they wish to quit. Research shows that counseling, support programs, and medications can more than double a person’s chances of successfully quitting tobacco use. The department also stresses the importance of educating young people about the dangers of nicotine addiction and the long-term health consequences associated with tobacco use.

As part of CPS’ annual calendar of health observances, the department continues to profile important public health themes aimed at improving the health and well-being of the Sint Maarten community.

For more information, persons can contact CPS at 542-3003 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.