PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) Section Youth Health Care (YHC) from the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (Ministry VSA), has officially launched its 10^th Annual Breastfeeding Photo Competition in the lead up to World Breastfeeding Week (WBW), observed globally from August 1-7.

This year marks a decade of celebrating and empowering mothers through breastfeeding awareness campaigns, and CPS is proud to commemorate this milestone under the 2025 theme:

“Prioritise Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems.”

The competition runs through August 1st, 2025, and invites mothers to participate by showcasing real, powerful moments from their breastfeeding journey.

In tribute to the theme, photos may also include the partner alongside the mother while breastfeeding. This addition celebrates the importance of a supportive environment and recognizes the role that partners and family members play in a successful breastfeeding experience.

To enter the competition, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line: “WBW 2025”, and include: Breastfeeding mom’s full name; Telephone contact number; One high-resolution image of mom and baby (or babies) breastfeeding; A short description explaining why you chose to breastfeed; (Optional but encouraged): Partner present in the photo to reflect the support system.

The competition guidelines are: Photos must not be older than two years; No alterations or filters; images must be in their original state; No watermarks; High-resolution images only; photos submitted after August 1, 2025, will not be eligible.

Entries will be judged, and winners will be selected for first, second, and third place prizes.

CPS continues to work in strong collaboration with the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) to raise awareness about the critical role breastfeeding plays in a child’s development and a mother’s well-being.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), being a parent is the most important job in the world, and giving parents the support they need to give their child the best start in life is essential. Breastfeeding is one of the foundational tools in that journey.

Breastfeeding provides numerous health, nutritional, and emotional benefits for both mothers and their children. It strengthens immunity, fosters emotional bonding, and contributes to a more sustainable and resilient food system.

For more information about World Breastfeeding Week events and how to participate in the photo competition, follow CPS, SMMC, and WYCCF on social media or call CPS at (721) 542-3003.

Let’s continue to uplift and support our mothers, because when we support breastfeeding, we build stronger families and healthier communities.

CAY HILL:---  The Mental Health Foundation (MHF) is proud to announce the continuation of its monthly Autism Parent Support Group, now in its fourth year. The group offers a safe, supportive, and understanding environment for parents, caregivers, grandparents, educators, and others navigating the realities of autism.

Held every third Thursday of the month, the next session is scheduled for this Thursday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the MHF building. The support group is open to all parents of children with autism, whether or not they are current MHF clients.

This initiative is designed to build community, reduce isolation, and provide a space where parents and caregivers can connect with others who share similar experiences. Attendees can expect short presentations on autism-related topics, such as understanding autism, practical behaviour strategies, navigating family dynamics and prioritizing self-care as a parent. These presentations are followed by peer-led discussions, where participants are encouraged to ask questions, share coping strategies and personal insights, and offer mutual support in an open and empathetic setting.

“We want parents to know that they are not alone,” said Psychologist Ms. Marjolein Smit, who hosts the Autism Support Group. “This is a space where they can speak openly, receive guidance, and gain comfort from others who truly understand.”

The group welcomes a wide range of attendees, including not only parents and caregivers but also grandparents, educators, and professionals in the autism field who may wish to offer their insights and support. MHF encourages all who are interested in participating to join and help strengthen this vital support network for the autism community on St. Maarten.

Those interested in attending can contact Ms. Smit via WhatsApp at (721) 585-5501 for more information or to express their interest.

MHF invites all members of the community to take part and help foster an inclusive, supportive space for families navigating the autism journey together.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Interim Director of Bureau Telecommunications and Post (BTP), Mrs. Judianne Labega-Hoeve, delivered a clear and forward-looking message during a high-level panel at the CANTO Caribbean Telecommunications Conference held this week in Nassau, Bahamas.

The panel, themed "Building the Caribbean Gigabit Society through a Federated Cloud," brought together regional leaders to discuss innovation in telecom, cloud infrastructure, digital sovereignty, disaster preparedness, and alignment with the CARICOM Single ICT Space.

Representing Sint Maarten, Mrs. Labega-Hoeve emphasized the critical need for stronger regional collaboration to achieve digital resilience and inclusive growth. “It is essential that regional traffic stays within the region,” she stated. “Localizing our data flows enhances security, improves speed and reliability, and fuels the development of a stronger regional digital economy.”

BTP remains committed to working closely with CARICOM, the CTU, CANTO, and other stakeholders to ensure Sint Maarten stays aligned with regional ICT goals. The agency supports the development of a Gigabit Society—where ultra-fast broadband is widely accessible—enabling transformative advances such as remote education, better healthcare, increased investment, and innovation-driven employment.

“It won’t be easy,” Mrs. Labega-Hoeve acknowledged, “but it’s important to set the bar high. It’s better to aim high and miss than to aim low and succeed.”

BTP’s active role at CANTO reinforces its strategic focus on digital transformation and its mission to keep Sint Maarten competitive in the rapidly evolving global digital landscape.

PHILIPSBURG:--- “It was just a few months ago that the Minister of Finance came to parliament and asked for the approval of the Ennia bailout, which was caused mainly due to the negligence of the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten,” said Ottley. His recent disapproval of the Central Bank and their appointment of Dr. Jose Jardim as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Banco di Caribe, citing what he describes as a blatant conflict of interest and deeply concerning past conduct tied to Dr. Jardim's role in the 2022 sale of the same institution.

The member of parliament expressed that he became extremely concerned after the Minister of Finance in Curacao expressed his recent disapproval of the Central Bank and their appointment of Dr. Jose Jardim as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Banco di Caribe, citing what he describes as a blatant conflict of interest and deeply concerning past conduct tied to Dr. Jardim's role in the 2022 sale of the same institution.

“I am happy to see that Minister Gumbs has voiced her opinion on that matter, as the previous silence from the minister had me very concerned,” said Ottley.

After some extensive research, MP Ottley questions if Article 23, Paragraph 2(a) of the National Ordinance on the Supervision of Banking and Credit Institutions was violated. This article prohibits the appointment of individuals to key policy-making roles within a credit institution without prior approval from the Central Bank. While the Central Bank did grant approval in this case, MP Ottley agrees that the approval never should have been given without a 'cooling-off' period of at least a year due to clear conflicts of interest arising from Dr. Jardim’s former regulatory role.

MP Ottley acknowledges the response of the Central Bank to Minister Silvania’s concerns and states that the articles are clear, and it’s hard to have complete faith in the institutions, given the past neglect that has greatly affected the two countries.

“These international norms are not theoretical—they are practical guardrails meant to protect financial systems from undue influence and reputational harm. CBCS should have followed these standards instead of facilitating a questionable transition that weakens institutional credibility,” Ottley said.

This is another example of why our current government should not just go along to get along. The Central Bank falls under the jurisdiction of the two countries, Curacao and St. Maarten, and has taken no responsibility for the Ennia Saga, while the people of St. Maarten were forced to inject millions into the bailout.

The financial institutions in St. Maarten are abusing our people day by day with added fees and complex measures, yet no talk of banking reform and consumer protection from the Minister of Finance, while there was already a proposal submitted by the UPP faction.

“The public must have confidence that our financial institutions are governed with independence, transparency, and integrity. Anything less puts our entire system at risk,” Ottley concluded.