PHILIPSBURG:--- Excitement filled the air on Sunday, March 29th, as students, parents, and supporters gathered to witness the annual Caribbean Gems Interscholastic Elementary and High School Swim Meets. The event, organized by Caribbean Gems, Carib Swim Team (CST), and the St. Maarten Aquatic Federation (SMAF), brought together young swimmers from the different schools in a spirited display of talent and sportsmanship.

The morning session kicked off with the elementary school competition, featuring seven participating schools. St. Dominic Primary School emerged as the overall winner, followed by Learning Unlimited in second place and Sr. Regina Primary School in third. Caribbean International Academy secured fourth place, while Asha Stevens Hillside School placed 5th, John A. Gumbs MAC Campus placed 6^th , and Martin Luther King School placed seventh. Notably, Martin Luther King School was represented by a single swimmer, demonstrating determination and resilience. The School Spirit Trophy was awarded to Sr. Regina Primary School for their enthusiastic support.

In the afternoon, the spotlight shifted to the secondary schools. Caribbean International Academy (CIA) claimed first place, with St. Dominic School High finishing second and Milton Peters College taking third. Learning Unlimited placed fourth, followed by St. Maarten Academy in fifth, MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education in sixth, and St. Maarten Vocational Training School in seventh. Similar to the morning session, St. Maarten Vocational Training School was represented by a single swimmer. The School Spirit Trophy went to St. Dominic High School.

The St. Maarten Aquatic Federation expressed its gratitude to Caribbean Gems for its continued sponsorship of the event for over 30 years. The company’s contributions include providing medals, trophies, certificates, and facilitating the use of the swimming pool. Appreciation was also extended to Carib Swim Team for technical support, WIEMS, lifeguards, Eline Broere, and Nikki Grandtner, as well as the volunteers from CST and the board members of SMAF who ensured the success of the event. We would like to thank all participating schools and expressed hopes for an even greater turnout at the 2027.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Tax Administration is pleased to announce that number plates within the MF and V categories, which were previously unavailable, are now ready for collection. Motorists who have already completed payment and are awaiting their plates are encouraged to visit the Receiver’s Office on Pond Island to collect them.

Motorists who were issued temporary M plates are requested to return these plates in order to receive their assigned V or R number plate.

To collect your number plate, motorists must present the following documents at the service window: proof of payment, valid insurance, and a valid inspection card. Payments can be made online, via bank transfer, or in person at the Receiver’s Office.

Online payments are available via the online portal at https://services.sintmaartengov.org/ or via bank transfer to the following accounts: WIB USD 324800-05 / XCG 324800-03; RBC USD 8200000403930461 / XCG 8200000005425048.

For payments made via bank transfer, motorists must include their name and vehicle plate number in the payment description. Receipts, stickers, or number plates can be collected at the Receiver’s Office within three to five working days, provided all required documents are presented.

The Tax Administration urges all motorists who have not yet paid for or collected their 2026 motor vehicle stickers to do so at their earliest convenience.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has called on countries to accelerate efforts to achieve cervical cancer 2030 elimination targets in the Americas, warning that, with only five years remaining, the current pace puts reaching the goals at risk, despite progress in vaccination.

Each year, over 78,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the Americas, and more than 40,000 die from the disease.

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the cervix, which is the lower, narrow part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with certain high-risk types of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a very common sexually transmitted infection.

The cancer typically develops very slowly, often beginning as pre-cancerous cell changes (known as dysplasia) that, if left undetected and untreated, can take many years to progress into invasive cancer. This slow progression is what makes routine screening so effective.

While this disease is a significant health challenge in our region, the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) wants every resident to know the most important fact: Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer, provided it is detected early.

Cervical cancer rates in the Caribbean are among the highest in the Americas. CPS recommends a three-tiered approach to eliminating cervical cancer in our community: HPV Vaccination: The First Line of Defense.

Vaccination is most effective when given to girls (and boys) between the ages of nine (9) and 14, before they are exposed to the virus. By vaccinating our youth, we are providing them with lifelong protection against the primary cause of cervical cancer.

Screening is not about looking for cancer; it is about looking for pre-cancerous changes. If these changes are found, they can be treated long before they ever become "cancer." The pap smear is a simple test that looks for abnormal cells in the cervix.

Women should begin regular screening at age 21 (or as advised by their healthcare provider). Don't wait for symptoms as cervical cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. If you wait until you feel pain or notice unusual bleeding, it may be more difficult to treat.

While vaccination and screening are the most powerful tools, overall health plays a role in how our bodies fight infections like HPV. Smoking doubles the risk of developing cervical cancer because it weakens the immune system’s ability to clear HPV infections.

A diet rich in Caribbean fruits and vegetables provides the antioxidants necessary for cellular health. At CPS, our goal is to ensure that no woman in our community suffers from a disease that we have the power to prevent.

Prevention is primarily achieved through the HPV vaccine, which protects against the strains of the virus most likely to cause cancer. Early detection relies on regular cervical cancer screening, which includes the Pap smear (to look for pre-cancerous cell changes) and the HPV test.

When these screenings are performed routinely, abnormal cells can be found and removed before they ever become cancer, making the prognosis for women who participate in regular screenings excellent.

CPS advises women who need additional information to contact their physician. Early detection is your best protection. Let us work together to keep the women of the Caribbean healthy, vibrant, and strong.

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- The Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson LL.M. has published the report “Het Luisterend Oog, In kader brengen van instellingen” (Dutch for “The Listening Eye”) on March 9^th, 2026. In this report, 564 institutions on Aruba that fall under the National Ombudsman Ordinance have been identified.

The four utility companies are NV Elmar, Setar N.V., Web Aruba N.V. and Serlimar Sui Generis. These were also part of the group that was identified. Because these companies offer essential services and citizens depend on these essential services, it is very important that these companies provide careful and transparent service, including complaint handling.

This report, “Het Luisterend Oog,” concerns an investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman in the third quarter of 2025. The main objective of the investigation was to identify institutions that fall under the National Ombudsman Ordinance.

The research shows that all utility companies offer general contact options and customer service, but that a clearly defined and publicly known complaints procedure is missing.

For citizens, it is essential that it is clear how a complaint can be submitted, how it is handled, and within what time frame a response can be expected. Such a procedure contributes to trust, legal certainty, and quality of service.

The Ombudsman has sent a letter about this to all utility companies and the ministers involved, and calls upon them to introduce and publish a clear and accessible complaints procedure in the short term.

“A good complaints procedure is not a formality, but an essential part of reliable service to citizens”, said the Ombudsman.

In addition to the general recommendations in the report, the Ombudsman advised the utility companies to take a number of steps in the short term:

• Define and publish a clear and accessible complaints procedure (for example, via the website or customer portal);
• Outline the steps, such as deadlines, registration, responsibilities and feedback;
• Choose one clear contact person or place for customers.
• Describe what customers can do if they are not satisfied with how their complaint has been handled and within the processing time frame.
• If applicable, define and publish the general terms and conditions, keep them up to date and easy to find.
• Ensure internal awareness and monitoring of complaints, following the recommendations in the report.

Also, there should be greater clarity about how the organizations operate and which laws they follow, so people can better understand how they function and who is responsible.

Also, there should be more clarity about the structure of organizations and which laws are applicable, so people can better understand how they function and who is responsible. These are concerns which the Ombudsman already raised in her letter of concern sent to Prime Minister Mike Eman in February of 2026.

The full report “The Listening Eye” (“Het Luisterend Oog – in kader brengen van instellingen”) and the letter of concern are available on the Ombudsman’s website, www.ombudsman.aw/en/publications/ .

The Ombudsman will continue to monitor and do follow-ups on these recommendations.

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