PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  With schools now closed and the summer holiday season well underway, the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) would like to offer some safety wellness tips to ensure a safe and healthy beach or pool day.

Stay hydrated, drink plenty of water.  Apply sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher every two hours to protect your skin from damage.  

Prevent accidental drowning by not being caught off guard by being mindful of swimming safety measures.  One of the biggest risks is when people become too relaxed or get distracted.

CPS Section Youth Health Care from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA) is calling on parents, guardians and all others who plan to visit our beaches, and those making use of swimming pools, to remain vigilant for the summer holiday season as potential hazards are entirely preventable.

Globally, the highest drowning rates occur among children aged 1-4 years, followed by children aged 5-9 years.

Always ensure children are constantly supervised by a responsible adult when around water: whether near a beach, swimming pool or bathtub, adult supervision is necessary to ensure that children can enjoy water safely. It is critical for supervising adults to remain vigilant and avoid distractions so that they can respond quickly if a child needs help.

The six interventions are: train bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation; install barriers controlling access to water; provide safe places away from water for pre-school children with capable childcare; and teach school-age children basic swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills.

Learning basic swimming and water safety skills greatly reduces the risk of drowning. This is particularly important for children aged six (6) years and above. Not only is swimming a skill for life, but it is also a great way to stay fit and active. 

It is important to drink water regularly even when not feeling thirsty. Drink water throughout the day to prevent dehydration.

As mentioned before, use sunscreen with a high SPF. You can also wear protective clothing such as hats and Ultraviolet (UV) protective clothing which offers additional protection from the sun’s harmful rays.

Seek shade and take breaks from direct sunlight. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block UV rays. Use lip balm with SPF to protect your lips from sunburn.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  With the second named storm Barry of the hurricane season already behind us, the Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is advising boat owners/mariners to review their hurricane preparatory plans, so they can be ready to take action in the event of a storm/hurricane threat to the country during the upcoming peak months of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season which is from mid-August to mid-October.

ODM is requesting mariners to make special preparations to stay with friends or in a hotel and not to remain on their vessel during the passing of a hurricane while moored in the Simpson Bay Lagoon or Oyster Pond.

ODM is also calling on the marine community and service providers who have a direct relationship with mariners to also remind their clients about seeking safe shelter/mooring in the event of a storm/hurricane strike.

The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and resources you need on how to prepare your family, home, or business for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart.” The information here is also valuable for new residents.

Listen to the Government Radio station SXMGOV – 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/

THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE):---  Recently, the Overseas Countries and Territories Association (OCTA) held its annual Ministerial Conference in an online format. Minister Plenipotentiary Drs represented Sint Maarten. Gracita R. Arrindell and the Director of the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary, Carol Voges.

The Ministerial Conference is OCTA’s highest governing body, composed of the heads of government or designated representatives of each member territory. Its purpose is to define political direction, approve financial and policy frameworks, and appoint the chair and members of OCTA’s Executive Committee.

Eleven of the thirteen OCTA members participated in this year’s conference, during which both the 2024 financial accounts and the organisation’s 2025 budget were formally approved.

The 2025 budget has been further streamlined in order to increase OCTA’s operational efficiency for this year.

Looking ahead, the Ministerial Conference mandated the Executive Committee (ExCo) to begin drafting a joint OCT white paper. This document will serve as a shared contribution to the negotiations of the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2028-2034 period.

The MFF sets the EU’s long-term budget priorities and spending ceilings over a seven-year cycle. For the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), it determines the scope and scale of EU funding and cooperation mechanisms, including regional and thematic programs.

The MFF negotiations with the EU will be conducted by the member states France, the Netherlands, and Denmark on behalf of the OCTs. Among other matters, the allocation of financial contributions to each OCT will be defined during this process.

~CHTA NAMES CORAL REEF STEWARDSHIP AWARD WINNERS AND LAUNCHES BEST PRACTICES GUIDE~

MIAMI, Fla.:--- With Caribbean coral reefs under increasing threat from climate change, overfishing, and coastal development, the region’s tourism industry is stepping up. The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), through its Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, recently hosted a webinar launching the new Caribbean Coral Reef Stewardship Best Practices Brief, featuring the winners of its inaugural Caribbean Coral Reef Tourism Stewardship Awards.

During the virtual event, the winning organizations presented their projects and shared best practices for reef conservation that are also showcased in the Brief. Together, these efforts spotlight how tourism stakeholders can help protect one of the Caribbean’s most vital natural assets.

New Best Practices Guide to Inspire Reef-Focused Tourism

The Best Practices Brief profiles three successful, uniquely different models of reef stewardship led by tourism operators. It offers actionable guidance on how hotels, resorts, dive operators and tourism businesses can collaborate with communities, NGOs, and government agencies to protect and restore coral ecosystems. From innovative coral gardening and habitat mapping to creative community engagement and education, the Brief demonstrates how environmental protection can also create economic and social benefits.

Recognizing Leadership in Coral Conservation

Building on the Brief’s recommendations, CHTA honored organizations setting new standards for coral protection through education, innovation, and collaboration.

“This is not only about preserving coral reefs; it’s about honoring the deep connection between nature and the people of the Caribbean,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, Acting Chair for CAST.  “When hotels and tourism-related businesses, communities, and conservationists come together, we’re protecting our heritage, safeguarding our investments, sustaining livelihoods, and ensuring that future generations can experience the beauty of these ecosystems. These awardees show what’s possible when sustainability is a shared commitment.”

2025 Caribbean Coral Reef Tourism Stewardship Awards Winners:

1st Place – Aquanauts Grenada
This Scuba Schools International (SSI) dive center has transformed invasive reef-damaging lionfish into an opportunity for conservation and community building. Through Lionfish Bites & Beats—a vibrant event combining live music, culinary experiences, and education—and the Aqua Rangers Youth Development Scholarship, Aquanauts has removed thousands of lionfish, funded marine conservation training for local youth, and created a replicable model blending education and public awareness-building, economic resilience and reef stewardship.

1st Runner-Up – Jamaica Inn Foundation, Ocho Rios
Jamaica Inn’s longstanding commitment to reef protection is embodied in the White River Fish Sanctuary, a 370-acre marine protected area which they helped to create and is co-managed with local stakeholders. Combining coral restoration, habitat mapping, and community education, with the unique engagement of local fishers, the Sanctuary has increased fish biomass by 500 percent while fostering sustainable livelihoods and scientific research.

2nd Runner-Up – Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica
Through its Reef Garden Initiative, Round Hill has become a pioneer in tourism-led reef restoration. In partnership with Seascape Caribbean and the Government of Jamaica, the resort has applied silvicultural coral propagation techniques, engaged local fishers as reef gardeners, and integrated guest experiences that connect travelers directly with conservation. The initiative shows how ecological impact and elevated guest engagement can go hand in hand.

These winning projects demonstrate how tourism, guided by strong partnerships and science-backed strategies, can drive both environmental restoration and sustainable economic growth across the Caribbean.

Tourism stakeholders are encouraged to explore the Best Practices Brief, share it across their networks, and draw inspiration from these leading examples. To access the full recording of the webinar and presentation decks, visit: https://caribbeanhotelandtourism.com/commitment-initiatives.

The Brief, webinar and supporting research undertaken by CHTA/CAST to identify best practices by tourism industry stakeholders were made possible in part by support from The Nature Conservancy and the United Nations Environment Programme.  

For more information about CHTA and CAST, visit: https://caribbeanhotelandtourism.com.  Additional research and support information is available at The Nature Conservancy’s site: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/caribbean.