PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten, today applauded the island’s presence on one of the world’s largest entertainment stages following the Super Bowl halftime performance featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Bad Bunny.

A local dancer, known professionally as Jay Mills, participated in the historic performance, during which the St. Maarten flag was proudly waved before a global audience of millions.

“As Minister responsible for Tourism and the Economy, moments like these remind us that our people are among our greatest ambassadors,” the Minister stated. “Whenever we see our flag carried onto an international stage, we know that one of our own has made a conscious effort to ensure that St. Maarten is seen and heard. That is powerful.”

She continued, “This is not only a proud moment for our island, but also a proud personal milestone for every creative, dancer, and digital content creator who represents who we are, no matter where in the world they may be. Our Orange Economy thrives because of talent like this, talent that carries culture, identity, and visibility beyond our shores.”

While efforts are being made to congratulate the performer personally, the Minister extended public recognition, adding, “Congratulations to Jay Mills for this remarkable accomplishment and for proudly taking the representation of your island with you onto one of the world’s most televised stages.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Integrity Chamber of Sint Maarten is taking a step to continue strengthening integrity, transparency, and accountability across the country with the launch of a National Integrity System (NIS) Progress Review.

This initiative builds on the NIS Assessment Report published in 2015 by Transparency International. The report set out nearly sixty (60) recommendations aimed at strengthening Sint Maarten’s integrity framework and promoting transparency and accountability. The assessment was informed by insights from a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the media.

The decision to revisit the NIS Assessment followed renewed attention at the Kingdom level to the state of integrity of the countries within the Kingdom. In response, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honorable Luc F.E. Mercelina, emphasized, together with the Integrity Chamber, the importance of reviewing the findings of the 2015 report to assess the status of its recommendations.

This review offers an important opportunity to reflect, measure progress, and move forward with renewed focus. The Integrity Chamber will examine what has been achieved, where progress has slowed, and what challenges continue to affect implementation. Most importantly, the review will look ahead, identifying practical solutions that can make a real and lasting impact.

This initiative underscores Sint Maarten’s commitment to good governance and responsible leadership. By strengthening systems that promote integrity, accountability, and transparency, that contributes directly to public trust, institutional resilience, and sustainable development. It also reinforces Sint Maarten’s standing as a country that takes integrity seriously, both locally and internationally.

As part of the review, the Integrity Chamber will:

• Review the status of the 2015 NIS recommendations and assess progress to date.
• Identify factors that have supported or hindered implementation.
• Develop a clear, realistic, and prioritized action plan with timelines.
• Issue additional recommendations to further enhance integrity, accountability, and transparency.

The progress review is expected to take approximately eight (8) to ten (10) months. The Integrity Chamber will be supported in this process by relevant government institutions and experienced experts in the field of integrity, governance, and institutional development.

Through this initiative, the Integrity Chamber continues its mission to promote integrity as a cornerstone of a strong democracy and a fair society, ensuring that integrity is not just a principle, but a practice that benefits all of Sint Maarten.

For more information on the National Integrity System and the progress review, contact the Integrity Chamber at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Department of Youth, under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, is actively advancing its 2026 strategic activities to support youth development, children’s rights awareness, and positive parenting across Sint Maarten.
As part of its ongoing work, the Department is implementing a series of community events designed to raise awareness of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and to actively engage families as part of a wider, integrated campaign strategy. These activities aim to increase public knowledge, encourage meaningful dialogue, and strengthen community involvement around children’s rights and responsibilities.
A central component of the Department’s awareness campaign is the weekly children’s rights radio quiz series, offering participants the opportunity to win prizes through an interactive, educational format. These quizzes are designed to reach listeners of all ages and to bring children’s rights education directly into homes, while encouraging national participation and increasing understanding of relevant government policies and programs.
These efforts will be further supported through radio interviews and strategic partnerships with schools, churches, and the private sector.
Recognizing families as the backbone of a strong and resilient community, the Department of Youth encourages private sector organizations to promote family-friendly work environments, contributing to healthier households and safer communities.
In parallel with its awareness initiatives, the Department of Youth is progressing several priority areas for 2026, including:

• the development of an Early Childhood Curriculum Guide;
• the further advancement of the National Child Safeguarding Policy through the development of practical implementation guidelines;
• the continuation of the Positive Parenting Support Program through partnerships with churches, district community centers, and the private sector;
• youth participation workshops designed to facilitate youth-led research
• the execution of the 28th annual Business Outreach and Placement Program (BOPP), among other initiatives.
All activities are aligned with the Integrated Youth Policy and reflect the Department’s continued commitment to strengthening families and empowering youth.
By expanding innovative awareness strategies and strengthening community partnerships, the Department of Youth remains dedicated to investing in the future of Sint Maarten’s youth by Educating, Inspiring, and Empowering.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance, Hon. Marinka J. Gumbs, attended the 10-year anniversary celebration of Audit Team Sint Maarten (ATS), marking a significant milestone for the foundation in its contribution to Sint Maarten’s tax and audit landscape.
Founded ten years ago, Audit Team Sint Maarten is a specialized foundation dedicated to conducting tax-related audits and supporting the strengthening of financial oversight and compliance on the island. Over the past decade, ATS has played an important role in enhancing the quality and professionalism of compliance and audit functions in Sint Maarten.
Notably, ATS employs several Sint Maarten-born professionals who were recruited directly from the Netherlands and are currently completing their qualification as Registered Accountants. This investment in local talent reflects ATS’s commitment to capacity building and sustainable professional development within Sint Maarten.
During the event, Minister Gumbs congratulated ATS on its decade of service and commended the organization for its dedication, expertise, and contribution to public financial accountability. She expressed optimism that ATS will continue to support Sint Maarten in strengthening its tax administration and audit practices in the years ahead.
She concluded by wishing ATS continued success as it enters its next decade of service to Sint Maarten.