St. Martin News Network - St. Maarten

New Snail Exhibit Launches at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House Saturday, December 6th.

snailexhibits30112025 French Quarter:--- The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to see the new snail exhibit at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. The free launch event for the panels will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am to noon. Guests can see the new snail panels and visit the Amuseum. There will also be free coloring pages featuring local snails. The panels were created with the support of Stibeman and Stichting ANEMOON.

“Snails are some of St. Martin’s most interesting animals,” said exhibit designer Mark Yokoyama. “We have snails that live in the trees, on the ground and in the soil. We have snails that are hunters, some that are scavengers, and others that are plant eaters. We even have rare snails that are only found in a few places on the planet!”

The Les Fruits de Mer association has been researching snails with the help of Tello Neckheim, a snail expert and frequent visitor to St. Martin. One of the new panels includes native snails, and the other features snails that were brought to St. Martin by people. The association plans to develop more snail panels, a coloring book and a field guide to local snails. There are about 50 species of land and freshwater snails on St. Martin.

Funding for the panels was provided by two foundations based in the Netherlands. Stibeman (Stichting tot Behartiging van de Belangen van de Malacologie in Nederland) is a foundation dedicated to the study of snails. Stichting ANEMOON is a foundation dedicated to the study of marine life.

The exhibit launch will be held on Saturday, December 6th, from 9 am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove. The free event is also a great chance to visit the museum. There will be a coloring station with a variety of snail coloring pages for attendees to enjoy.

Public meeting of Parliament for a question hour with the Minister of General Affairs regarding Sint Maarten's national strategy for fuel diversification, LNG transition, public utilities, and the implementation of community benefits

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a public meeting on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The public meeting is scheduled for 13.00 hrs. in the General Assembly Chamber of the House at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister / Minister of General Affairs will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Question hour: Questions from MP F.A. Lacroes directed to the Minister of General Affairs regarding Sint Maarten's national strategy for fuel diversification, LNG transition, public utilities, and the implementation of community benefits (IS/368/2025-2026 dated November 19, 2025)

The intention of a question hour is to create the possibility for Members of Parliament to exercise their supervisory activities by posing questions and interact with Ministers on current matters. During the question hour only questions and answers will be given on the topic at hand. The procedure of the question hour is regulated in article 69 and further of the Rules of Order.
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.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament 

World AIDS Day: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The theme for World AIDS Day, which will be observed globally on Monday, December 1, 2025, is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) said on Sunday.

World AIDS Day, observed annually on December 1st, serves as a crucial global initiative to unite people in the fight against HIV, show support for those living with the virus, and commemorate those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.

The day is a pivotal moment for governments, health organizations, and communities to renew their commitment to reach the UNAIDS target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

A primary objective of World AIDS Day 2025 will be to accelerate efforts toward achieving the ambitious 95-95-95 targets: of people living with HIV know their status, of all people with diagnosed HIV infection receive sustained antiretroviral therapy (ART), and of all people receiving ART achieve viral suppression.

CPS encourages the community to educate and inform themselves about the latest developments related to AIDS and HIV, and therefore, the topic is part of its annual calendar of health observances.

Achieving viral suppression is critical, as it means the virus is undetectable, rendering it impossible to transmit sexually or undetectable equals un-transmittable).

This scientific fact has fundamentally changed the social and medical landscape of HIV, allowing people with HIV to live long, healthy lives and preventing new infections.

Awareness campaigns on this day will heavily emphasize the importance of getting tested, starting treatment immediately, and understanding that modern ART is the most effective prevention tool available.

Finally, the commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing need to combat stigma and discrimination. Despite monumental medical progress, social stigma remains a major obstacle, preventing many individuals from seeking testing or adhering to treatment for fear of judgment, exclusion, or violence.

World AIDS Day is therefore a call to action for society to foster greater understanding and acceptance. By promoting open dialogue, celebrating the resilience of those living with HIV, and campaigning for inclusive policies, we can remove the final non-medical barriers to ending the epidemic, ensuring that the necessary healthcare and social support reach every individual, everywhere.

In 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally. Approximately 630,000 people died from HIV related causes in 2024, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2024.

FLM Panel Discussion.

bankersassociation28112025 PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance, Marinka J. Gumbs Invites the Community to a Dynamic Financial Literacy Discussion Featuring the Bankers Association
The Ministry of Finance is pleased to announce an important and interactive financial literacy event on November 30, hosted by the Minister of Finance, Marinka J. Gumbs, in honor of Financial Literacy Month.
To bring clarity to the many financial questions raised by the public, Minister Marinka Gumbs has invited representatives of the Bankers Association to join a community-focused panel discussion. This session creates a rare opportunity for residents to engage directly with banking professionals and get real answers to real concerns.
“Many citizens have reached out to me about banking issues, from loans to fees to day-to-day financial challenges. I wanted to bring the experts to you so your voices can be heard and your questions addressed openly,” said Minister Marinka Gumbs.
Participants will gain practical insights, guidance, and a better understanding of how financial systems and banking services affect their daily lives. Whether you are seeking clarity, empowerment, or simply want to build stronger financial skills, this event is designed with you in mind.
Register now: www.finlitsxm.com
Walk-ins welcome on event day
Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your financial knowledge and engage directly with the professionals who help shape our financial landscape.

Debate Team Takes It All in One Weekend.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Friday, November 21st, 2025, St. Dominic High School proudly represented Dutch St. Maarten in the Regional Rights of a Child Debate. Competing against teams from St. Kitts, Anguilla, Martinique, St. Barths, and French St. Martin, our students emerged victorious, winning the overall debate competition! Representing SDHS were the speakers:
Nyah Kalmera (F5B),
Aditi Rajpal (F4C),
Tamanna Sharma (F4A), and
Tanishka Shroff (F4A).

The very next day, Saturday November 22nd, 2025, the debate team had readied themselves to faceoff St. Maarten Academy Academic in the finals of the Annual Interscholastic Debate Competition at the University of St. Martin. SDHS argued in favour of the moot: "Our Modern Carnival does not preserve the culture for the youth". Our speakers for this event were:
Magdalina Dorlis (IB1),
Tyrique Walsh (4C), and
Tanya Halley (4B)
Special congratulations to Magdalina, who was named the Best Speaker for the evening!
That night, mentor for the Debate Team and Head of the Social Science Department, Ms. Daniella Arrindell, received high praises for her guidance and the team's growth throughout the competition season.

The SDHS Debate Team consists of 31 students (including researchers, writers, and speakers) guided by Ms. Arrindell and supported by amazing parents—a true recipe for success!

Congratulations to the entire team on this outstanding achievement!!!
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