PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, delivered a detailed presentation to Parliament outlining the longstanding issues affecting the Ambulance Department and the steps the Ministry has taken since assuming office in late 2024.

During the presentation, Minister Brug emphasized that the challenges facing the Ambulance Division were inherited, but have been actively addressed through assessments, consultations, and structured dialogue with staff and their union, WICSU-PSU.

Inherited Issues and Staff Concerns

According to the Minister’s briefing, key issues brought forward by the Ambulance Department include:

• Outdated Rechtspositie (legal status)
• Disparities in remuneration
• Vacation day accumulation challenges
• Need for updated and formalized job descriptions
• Alignment with standards used in Aruba and Curaçao

Brug explained that upon taking office, these longstanding concerns required a thorough review to ensure compliance with legal frameworks and fairness across government personnel systems.

Chronology of Government Actions

The Minister provided a timeline showing consistent engagement with the Ambulance Division throughout 2025. Among the significant milestones:

• August 27, 2025 – A draft covenant was introduced, providing a structured path toward formal negotiations.
• Ongoing communication and consultations were held to review staff concerns in detail.
• Despite a continued go-slow action — taken in solidarity with the Fire Department — Brug noted that the Ministry respected the staff’s position while keeping dialogue open.
• October 6, 2025 – The Ambulance Department expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s efforts and indicated readiness to begin formal negotiations.

A key pending component remains the appointment of a representative from the Department of Personnel & Organization (PNO), which is needed to legally and administratively advance the negotiation process.

Initiatives Already Implemented

Minister Brug outlined several internal initiatives already completed to prepare for formal restructuring. While the presentation did not detail each initiative slide-by-slide, it noted that assessments and internal reviews have positioned the Ministry to move efficiently once PNO participates.

The “content of the covenant, legal framework, and required administrative adjustments are already outlined,” the Minister said, adding that the Ministry is prepared to finalize matters collaboratively once all parties are represented.

Current Status and Next Steps

Brug told Parliament that the Ministry has made “significant progress” in addressing the Ambulance Division’s specific concerns. The final administrative step before negotiations can begin is the formal involvement of PNO.

Once that representative is assigned, the Ministry expects formal negotiation meetings with WICSU-PSU to proceed quickly.

Minister Reaffirms Commitment

In his concluding remarks, Brug reiterated his commitment to a structured, collaborative approach that resolves issues in a legally sound manner. He also acknowledged that the ongoing go-slow action is influenced by broader concerns linked to the Fire Department but emphasized that this has not slowed work on Ambulance Division matters.

“The Ministry has advanced substantially in addressing the Ambulance Division’s concerns,” Brug told Parliament. With the negotiation framework already prepared, he said the Ministry is “positioned to establish a formal covenant and move quickly and productively forward.”

“Resilience through Transformation”

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:---  From 12 to 14 November 2025, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) hosted the 56th Annual Monetary Studies Conference (AMSC), the Caribbean’s longest-standing forum for economic research, under the theme “Resilience through Transformation”. Organized in partnership with the Caribbean Economic Research Team (CERT), the three-day, in-person conference brought together central bankers, academics, and economic experts from across the region to exchange evidence, insights, and policy ideas. The conference highlighted the vital role of central bank research in shaping effective, evidence-based policy.

Each year, economic researchers, particularly from the region’s central banks, gather at the AMSC to present and discuss work on Caribbean economies. CERT, a research institute established by the central banks of the CARICOM countries, coordinates the event. This year, the CBCS had the honor of hosting the 56th edition, which welcomed 75 economists from across the region.
The conference theme, “Resilience through transformation,” emphasized that, in an era of rising uncertainty and global turbulence, economic transformation is essential to strengthening Caribbean economies' resilience. Setting the tone at the opening ceremony on November 12, CBCS President Richard Doornbosch welcomed participants to Willemstad and underscored that “resilience in the Caribbean must be built by design, through steady gains in productivity and inclusion, credible policy frameworks, and institutions that can adapt to accelerating change”. He added, “Climate risks are now systemic, geopolitical and trade tensions are intensifying, and digital technologies are reshaping finance and the real economy, making rigorous research and regional cooperation more important than ever”.
The AMSC program featured peer-reviewed research sessions consisting of 19 working papers organized around the region’s priorities, including growth and productivity, trade and tourism, climate and environmental sustainability, foreign direct investment, the future of money and payments, and public finances and fiscal sustainability.

The conference also included the Adlith Brown Memorial Lecture, delivered by Mrs. Jeanette Semeleer, President of the Centrale Bank van Aruba and a respected voice in the Caribbean community, who will conclude her tenure as Central Bank President later this month.
On the final day of the conference, a Governors’ Panel of four CARICOM central bank presidents examined “The Changing Role of the U.S. Dollar Amid Rising Stablecoins: Implications for Caribbean Resilience,” exploring what global monetary shifts mean for exchange-rate regimes, reserve management, payment systems, capital flows, and financial stability in Caribbean economies.

The CBCS sincerely thanks CERT for putting together an insightful and comprehensive agenda, the authors, chairpersons and discussants for their months of dedicated research and preparation, and the Caribbean central banks and universities for sustaining this community for more than 50 years. The Annual Monetary Studies Conference continues to inspire collaboration, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships, and deepen understanding of the region’s economy.

Willemstad, 17 November 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN

PHILIPSBURG:--- Motorworld officially introduced Chery, its newest automotive brand, with a lively, culture-driven launch event that drew an impressive crowd of over 1,000 guests. The celebration marked the debut of Chery’s full Tiggo SUV lineup: the Tiggo 2, Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8, and Tiggo 9, along with the first reveal of the Tiggo 4 Hybrid, the first of many electrified models set to follow.
The event placed St. Martin’s vibrant culture front and center. Guests arrived at the sound of live steel pan music, creating an authentic Caribbean atmosphere that carried throughout the evening. A colorful parade of dancers in traditional and carnival-inspired costumes brought even more excitement, turning the launch into both a community celebration and a significant automotive milestone.

A lively food court showcased local vendors offering creative dishes, while inside, visitors browsed an impressive display of artwork and locally made products, including paintings, photography, jewelry, beauty items, candles, and crafts, highlighting the island’s talented entrepreneurs and creators.
In addition to the cultural showcase, attendees explored the Chery brand story, viewed vehicle demonstrations, and test drove the Tiggo SUVs.

This launch also marks a significant regional achievement: “Motorworld has been appointed Chery’s regional distributor for 25 Caribbean territories, with St. Maarten serving as the first stop in a series of upcoming launches across the region.”
Motorworld Group Chairman Tariq Amjad expressed his excitement as the brand’s debut came to life. “The turnout, energy, and support from the community were incredible. After years of hard work to bring Chery to the island and the wider Caribbean, seeing this launch come together was truly rewarding,” said Amjad.
Chery enters the Caribbean backed by global recognition and exceptional value. As China’s top automotive exporter for 22 consecutive years, Chery has earned a strong international reputation for quality, safety, and cutting-edge engineering. It has also been China’s highest-rated domestic brand for quality by J.D. Power for the past three years: 2023, 2024, and 2025. The brand arrives with the Caribbean’s best warranty, offering 7 years/200,000 km bumper-to-bumper coverage and an outstanding 10-year/1 million kilometer engine warranty.

Motorworld invites the community to visit the showroom to explore the entire Chery lineup, take a close look at the Tiggo SUVs, and experience why Chery is one of the world’s fastest-growing automotive brands.

Cul de Sac:---  St. Maarten Academy has copped 10 top spots from among more than 100,000 candidates who wrote the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations in May/June this year, three more than the previous year.

Most notable is the performance of Ferley Feliz Valerio, who for the second consecutive year, earned a number one spot on the Regional Merit List, which was released last Thursday via the CXC website.

Ferley, who was the best performing student in Human and Social Biology at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations last year while in Form 5, can now boast of being the best Digital Media Unit 1 student at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE).

Academy candidates for Digital Media Unit 1 were taught by Ms. Kester Small, whose guidance each year has placed students in the top 10 at the regional examinations. This year, Digital Media Unit 1 students copped six of the 10 top spots, with Meer Lalwani emerging behind Ferley in second place, Yovarsha Singh at fifth, Kailah Caines at sixth place, and Leondre Mullings and Nathan Sagnia copping tenth place due to a five-way tie.

Rounding off the CAPE top performers are Fara Colas, who placed fifth for Performing Arts, and Sarai Willemsburg, the latter of whom tied with another candidate in Trinidad for ninth place, also in Performing Arts. Due to the shortage of teachers on Sint Maarten, the 31Year 2 CAPE students followed Performing Arts online under the tutelage of Mrs. Abigail Joefield, who, for the second consecutive year, guided students to the top spots. She expressed her joy at their outstanding performance, as it was sometimes a challenge not being able to conduct face-to-face classes.

CAPE Coordinator, Mrs. Doreen Edwards Mac Intosh, who took over the helm of the Division from Ms. Small last year, congratulated her teachers for their hard work and dedication. She reminded them that it always takes a team to do great things.

Ms. Small, who joined the Information Technology Department of St. Maarten Academy in 2017, began teaching Digital Media in 2019, and ever since then, she has produced exceptional results. In 2021, three of her students merited. The following year, she secured four of the top 10 spots. In 2023 and last year, again, her students grabbed a total of four places between Units 1 and 2.

At the CSEC level, two out of the school’s 54 candidates made it into the top 10. Kushi Jeetendra Soneji, who will be graduating as Salutatorian in December, placed third for Human and Social Biology (HSB); while Magdalina Dorlis copped eighth place for Music, which was taught by one of Anguilla’s veteran Music instructors, Mrs. Daphne Jacobs-Richardson. Mrs. Jacobs-Richardson’s students have consistently performed well each year since the school entered its first CXC Music candidate, Jabari ‘Jabz’ York, in 2015, who placed fourth in the region.

Commenting on Dorlis’s achievement, Mrs. Jacobs Richardson said she worked with the child, as Music was an additional elective that could not be taught during the regular scheduled hours. “She was juggling between Music and another elective, so I had to work with her extra during breaktime and on the weekend for her to catch up. Music is a demanding subject, so I feel proud of her because, despite her heavy workload, she was able to make it into the top 10.”

Mrs. Thekara Chandler, who heads the school’s Science Department, too, was excited over Khushi’s performance in HSB. “I’m elated to hear that Khushi made the CSEC Merit list for Human & Social Biology. This achievement reflects her hard work and dedication in the subject. It's a significant milestone that not only showcases her academic abilities but also opens up opportunities for her future studies and career in the sciences. Celebrating her success is truly inspiring as she continues striving for excellence,” stated Mrs. Chandler.

The school’s Principal, Mrs. Kim Lucas-Felix, could not contain her joy at the Academy’s performance this year at the CXC examinations, both at CSEC and CAPE. She noted that once again, the students continue to put this tiny island on top among other big countries where thousands of students sit the regional examinations. The repeated outstanding performance, she said, not only speaks volumes about the quality of education at the school, but by extension, the island of Sint Maarten.

“We are a competitive school. I must give props to our School Board - the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) - that supports the Management in trying its best to provide all that is needed to ensure that our students receive quality education. Apart from that, all of us must recognise our children’s greatness and encourage them to do their best. Let us continue to speak positive words into their lives and stop criticizing them when they slip up. Always remember that none of us is perfect and along the way, our ‘villages’ guided us and made us who we are today, so let us do the same for our youth, and they will shine.”

“I would also like to recognise our hardworking teachers, who give so much more than they are being paid for. Without them, we could not have accomplished this feat year after year. So thank you, teachers! Thank you to my Management team, especially Vice Principal Joanna Trim, who took over as CXC Coordinator last year and held the helm for most of 2025 while I was out on medical leave. Also, I have much gratitude to the parents who trusted us with their children’s education and well-being,” the principal stated.

The Principal would also like to express appreciation to the CXC Local Registrar and Head of Examinations Division within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, drs. Yvette Halley, “who often goes beyond the call of duty to guide us (the CXC schools), among her many other responsibilities. She makes herself available at any hour of the day or night, and despite her heavy workload forwards our queries and provides clarification.”

The Board of the Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE), under which the school falls, stated through its Executive Director, drs. Tallulah Baly-Vanterpool: “This outstanding performance shows what becomes possible when students, teachers, families, and leadership pull in one direction with purpose and belief. It reminds us that excellence is never accidental, but the result of vision, discipline, and a community that believes deeply in its young people. As FAVE continues to reimagine education, we remain committed to nurturing every student’s potential so they can lead, innovate, and uplift our island and the wider Caribbean.”

Reflections from our students

1. Ferley Feliz Valero - First Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

 The now Sixth Form student, who emerged as valedictorian for the Class of 2024, said: “I am feeling grateful to be first on the CAPE Digital Media Unit 1 Merit List for 2025. I just want to give a huge thanks to my teacher, Ms. Small, for her guidance and support throughout the. Words cannot express how proud I am of my students on this incredible feat. These six students’ record number of placements in this year’s merit list serves as a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Digital Media Unit 1 cohort, all of whom returned Grade Ones at this year’s sitting. Ferley was an exemplary student throughout, and I knew she was a shoo-in for first place regionally.”

2. Meer Lalwaniu - Second Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

“I am truly honored to have tied for second place on the CAPE Digital Media Merit List. Although I knew I did well, earning this recognition was a pleasant surprise. I’m deeply grateful to my teachers and parents for their support, and I’m proud to have made my school’s name shine.”

3. Yovarsha Singh - Fifth Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

“Being named on the regional merit list is truly an honor. I’m grateful for this recognition and for everyone who helped me along the way.”

4. Kailah Caines - Sixth Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

“It's an honour to be recognized on the regional merit list. This achievement inspires me to keep striving for excellence and reminds me that hard work pays off.”

5. Leondre Mullings - Tenth Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

“I am deeply honored to be included on the regional merit list. This recognition means a lot to me and reflects the hard work, dedication, and support from my teachers, family, and friends.”

6.  Nathan Sagnia - Tenth Place (Digital Media Unit 1)

“Knowing that I made it on the merit list for Digital Media…I do appreciate that I’ve gotten it, and I am thankful that I did.”