~More than 20 global experts gave tools to islandpreneurs to build more resilient and global businesses.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- On June 3rd – 4th, Islandpreneur Live 2021, the second annual signature virtual experience hosted by Produce Wealth Revolution (PWR) Agency took place. This two (2) day virtual summit focused on providing island-based entrepreneurs with actionable insights to build resilient and global businesses. Speakers covered topics like design thinking, securities exchange, financial resilience, digital transformation on islands and its impact, global branding, digital media and building a profitable business, innovation, export, strategy, building partnerships, and more.

Key experts included senior leaders of the Government of Sint Maarten, Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX), Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten(CBCS), Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Microsoft, and Facebook. Other experts were award-winning entrepreneurs featured in publications such BBC, Entrepreneur, and Fast Company.

One of the unique elements in this years’ experience was the live recording of Islandpreneur Podcast with international guest, former venture capitalist turned youtuber, Evan Carmichael. Evan’s youtube channel just crossed 3 million subscribers. He is also an author of five (5) books including his latest “Built to Serve”. His goal is to solve the world’s biggest problem of people not believing in themselves enough. He has been regarded at Forbe’s Top 40 Social Media Talents and Inc. has named one of the 100 great leadership speakers. At Islandpreneur Live, Evan challenged the attendees to believe more and shared how he believes that entrepreneurs are going to solve the world’s biggest problems.

Another unique component was Islandpreneur Awards and Roundtable discussion, in which four (4) global experts were awarded for their impact and involvement in entrepreneurship, particularly on small islands.
The virtual award ceremony was hosted by internationally award-winning blogger, Kenty Lichtenberg of Kerai Kreative Style, and the roundtable discussion was facilitated by none other than Lenworth Wilson Jr.

These awardees included: (1) Leslie Samuel, who received the Pioneer of the Year Award for his ability to pave the way in the way he does business, incorporate cutting-edge technologies, and his commitment to supporting islandpreneurs. Leslie, originally from St. Maarten and based in Florida, is a successful online business coach, who helps people change the world one post at a time. (2) Christy Brown, President of Launchpad 2x, a non-profit organization for women entrepreneurs, received the Investor of the Year Award. She has invested in entrepreneurs, particularly women in underserved communities and regions of the world. Ms. Brown is committed to supporting islandpreneurs and assisting in finding investors to support both regional and global growth. (3) Heneka Watkis- Porter also known as the queen of podcasting, is a Podcast producer and coach, 5x author and speaker who has interviewed many global entrepreneurs and influencers, including Lisa Nichols, Les Brown, and Sir Richard Branson. Originally from Jamaica, where she runs her business The Entrepreneurial You, Heneka is unapologetically island and stayed true to who she is while building a global business. For these reasons , she has been awarded Islandpreneur of the Year.
(4) Jeff Hoffman, an award-winning entrepreneur, Chairman of Global Entrepreneurship Network, best-selling author, the founder of multiple startups and has been a part of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com and uBid.com to name a few. Jeff has shown up for smaller islands such as Aruba, Curacao, and St. Maarten. Dedicated to ensuring that entrepreneurs around the world are supported to thrive, Jeff was awarded Global Leader of the Year.

Other highlights of Islandpreneur Live were opening address by keynote by Small Medium Business (SMB) Lead at Microsoft Caribbean Yamile Bustamante Allen, financial resilience workshop by the Centrale Bank van Curacao en Sint Maarten, a roundtable discussion on digital transformation and future of islands which included the head of egovernment digital transformation project, Mr. Femi Badejo and James Ellsmoor of Ireland who runs Island Innovation an organization that focuses on sustainable solutions on islands around the world.

Yinka Badejo, a proud daughter of the soil and Data Science Manager of Facebook shared on the importance of purpose to be innovative. “Start with the purpose, ... the person with the biggest drive is the most grounded in purpose”- Yinka Badejo said as she shared why purpose is the strategy to innovate. Yinka’s career has spanned aviation, railway, and consulting, working for companies like Piper Aviation, Boston Consulting Group, and Ernst & Young.

Cristal Legrand, the Host of St. Martin Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC), announced the first top five(5) finalists for the EWC during Islandpreneur Live. These are (1) Sunil Mirani of Orders.SX, (2)Jean Oneli Blaise of STEMS, (3)Dieu Donne of Lips & Lashes Cosmetics, (4) Ricardo Perez of SXM Padel Group, and (5) Maria Jose Segura Ibarra of Inti Ayllu. The winner of the national competition will ultimately go to Saudi Arabia to experience the global competition which has prizes up to USD $500 000 for the global winner.

The event ended with a virtual toast to celebrate the success of Islandpreneur Live 2021 with notable wines of E&J Gallo Winery, La Marca, Apothic, Barefoot, and Carlo Rossi Ice. The PWR Agency would like to thank all the Islandpreneur Live’s strategic partners, TelEm N.V., Prime Distributors, Dutch Caribbean Securities Exchange (DCSX), Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), all the global experts and registrants for making this event a success.

Replays are available for purchase until June 18th for $37. For more information about Islandpreneur Live or services, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or join the Facebook group at www.fb.com/groups/islandpreneur.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley would hereby like to inform the public that the job portal, previously referred to as www.jobopportunities.sx is being revamped and relaunched. An agreement was signed on Tuesday, June 8th with Sites on the US, and the work to roll out the tasks has begun.

The job portal will serve as the primary tool for the National Employment Service Center (NESC) and will aid greatly in boosting the job matching process between employers and suitable job seekers. A fully automated dynamic and robust platform; a first of its kind for the Government of Sint Maarten.

Upon taking office, Minister Ottley made a commitment to work diligently to address all the challenges faced by the people of Sint Maarten regarding opportunities for employment. This is the beginning of a new era, where the focus is placed on you!

Minister Ottley would like to thank the owner of Sites on Us, Mr. Raymond Pierre Louis, and the expert consultant in their employ, Mr. Marvio Cooks.

Minister Ottley is extremely proud, as both young men pursued higher education at FAMU and returned to Sint Maarten with their degree in hand, like Minister Ottley himself.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a press release, the UD questions the seemingly nonexistent relationship between the Government of St.Maarten and the Collectivity of St.Martin.

"Have the respective Ministers met with their French-Side counterparts since taking office over a year ago?" the party questions.

The UD is on record for standing up for this relationship, as the party is convinced that the future of this island is one of togetherness, not separation.

Other than lofty words at commemorative events, there is lately very little to show for the one-islands many like to profess.

“We are still in a pandemic as Covid-19 continues to affect us economically and has basically crippled our tourism product. With a little light on the horizon in terms of gradual reopening in several parts of the world, we need to ensure that collectively our island is once again poised to take part in the global recovery. “

The UD Party questions why the Tourism-based Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the French Side has been shelved and from all appearances, each side of the island taking its own initiatives with little or no consultation with the other.

Over one year in office and the counterparts of especially Tourism and Culture have yet to meet. “There is no excuse for this type of ‘good-weather relationship”.

Stakeholders should be around the table constantly and on speed dial to creatively balance reviving our economy without risking lives due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

This government’s lack of leadership and internal cohesion on fundamental issues has left the wider population in the dark as to where exactly the government stands on matters such as cooperation with our French brothers and sisters.

"We strongly advise all ministries to contact their respective counterparts on French St.Martin and re-establish the longstanding working relationship that has existed," UD concluded.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The application process for potential applicants for the annual Hurricane Passes in connection with the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season, has until June 15 to present all relevant information related to the process of requesting a pass.

There are two types of passes, the Disaster Pass and the Hurricane Pass. No passes will be issued to business owners, only with some exemption categories as noted below.

The pass allows the bearer to access the public road to visit the place of business to assess possible damage to the property. No company passes will be accepted during curfew hours. This can only take place during certain hours that will be stipulated and announced by the Prime Minister in a curfew situation.

Disaster Passes are issued to the following crucial disaster relief organizations and are valid for three years. The disaster relief organization consists of the following: Emergency Operations Center staff, Emergency Support Services staff, Crucial governmental organizations, and entities involved in disaster management such as medical institutions, general practitioners and pharmacies, Red Cross, WIEMS, White & Yellow Cross, National Security Service VDSM, Sea Rescue, Shelter Management, Ministers and their drivers.

The following categories qualify for a Hurricane Pass which is valid for two years: Essential Government personnel without a disaster pass; Essential personnel of crucial companies or organizations: NV GEBE, Seven Seas Water, Telecom and Internet providers, Princess Juliana International Airport, Port St. Maarten, Hotels and Guesthouses, Marinas, Fuel distributors and gas stations, Commercial banks, Medium, and large-sized supermarkets, Restaurants (those providing food services to emergency services), Importers and Wholesale Companies for perishable goods (Only requests can be submitted for refrigeration and or generator technicians).

The crucial organizations as listed above (disaster & hurricane passes) can request personal passes for their key personnel.

The Hurricane Pass is valid for the 2021 hurricane season and will remain the property of the Government of Sint Maarten.

Please note that no company passes will be accepted during curfew hours.

An application form can be requested by sending an email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Emails should include the following: Name of organization; Request for disaster or hurricane pass.

When submitting the application the following documents need to be attached:
- copy business license fee paid (or receipt) for 2021;
- proof of 2021 registration at the Chamber of Commerce;
- copy valid Sint Maarten ID-card of applicant;
- Nafl. 50,- in leges stamps per application (to be obtained at the Receiver’s Office or the Simpson Bay Public Service Center), this is a non-refundable handling fee;
- One (1) passport picture for new applicants.

The application form has to be completed and submitted to the offices of the Fire Department & Disaster Management, to the attention of the secretary located at Jackal Road 5 (Office hours Monday-Friday 9.00AM to 4.00PM), Cay Hill, by June 15, 2021, with all necessary documents attached.

Applicants will be informed by email or telephone when to pick up the pass at the aforementioned address.