Cayman Islands:---  CCRIF SPC announced that it will make a second payout of US$21.1 million to the Government of Jamaica following the passage of Hurricane Melissa – due to the triggering of the Government’s excess rainfall parametric insurance policy. Previously, on October 31, CCRIF announced that Jamaica will receive a payout of US$70.8 million (J$11.4 billion) on the country’s tropical cyclone policy. The total payouts to Jamaica from CCRIF amount to US$91.9 million (J$14.8 billion) following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa.

On November 3rd CCRIF provided the Government with a portion of the tropical cyclone policy payout – US$8 million – to provide immediate access to quick liquidity (cash). The remaining US$62.8 million will be paid by November 13th – in keeping with CCRIF’s key value proposition of making payouts within 14 days of an event. The excess rainfall policy payout will also be made within 14 days, following final model verification. Excess rainfall assessments typically take a few days longer than tropical cyclone evaluations due to the complexity of rainfall distribution and localized impacts.

CCRIF’s parametric insurance policies are a key component of Jamaica’s comprehensive disaster risk financing strategy. Payouts from CCRIF provide its members with immediate access to liquidity to support vulnerable populations, repair critical infrastructure, stabilize public services such as water, and reduce the country’s economic exposure, safeguarding debt and fiscal sustainability targets and overall development gains.

Jamaica currently has coverage from CCRIF for tropical cyclone, excess rainfall and earthquake. CCRIF’s parametric insurance policies are designed to respond to the intensity of a hazard event, considering the assets exposed, and the modelled losses based on pre-defined models. The tropical cyclone policy is based on modelled losses from wind and storm surge, and the excess rainfall policy is based on the volume and distribution of rainfall. Prior to these two payouts for Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica received 3 other payouts in previous years on its tropical cyclone and excess rainfall policies for Tropical Cyclones Beryl, Eta and Zeta.

Since its inception in 2007, CCRIF has made 82 payouts totalling US$483 million (https://www.ccrif.org/aboutus/ccrif-spc-payouts?language_content_entity=en).

CCRIF CEO, Mr. Isaac Anthony plans to visit Jamaica to meet with senior officials to discuss how CCRIF can provide further assistance for the country’s recovery efforts and how it can support the Government in further enhancing its financial protection strategy.

For the previous press release, “CCRIF To Make Record US$70.8 Million (J$11.4 Billion) Payout to Jamaica Following the Devastation Caused by Hurricane Melissa”, click the link below:
https://www.ccrif.org/news/ccrif-make-record-us708-million-j114-billion-payout-jamaica-following-devastation-caused?language_content_entity=en

#ccrifspc #caribbean #jamaica #hurricanemelissa #disasterriskfinancing #naturaldisaster #catastropheriskinsurance #parametricinsurance #climatechange #lossanddamage #US$21million #excessrainfall #US$91.9million

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Health departments and organizations around the globe are preparing for World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW), which will take place from November 18 – 24.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) says Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites no longer respond to antibiotics used to treat a wide range of bacteria making infections difficult to treat and at times impossible, increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.

Antibiotics and other antimicrobials play a key role in the success of modern medicine and have greatly improved the health of humans and animals. But overuse and misuse have reduced their efficacy, with more pathogens developing the ability to survive the antimicrobials designed to eliminate them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The objective of WAAW is to spread information to different groups within the community and for persons to be able to learn more about Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), and why it’s a global concern and what impact it could have on Sint Maarten.

Antibiotic medicines were discovered a century ago and have significantly extended average life expectancy. Every day, these essential medicines save millions of lives.

“Together, we should ensure the international community sets ambitious goals during high-level meetings on AMR and that countries allocate sufficient resources to meet AMR national action plans.

“By sharing real-life experiences of AMR, we aim to illustrate its tangible impact and promote global action. WHO urges governments, NGOs, civil society groups, youth and student organizations, universities, healthcare professionals, private stakeholders and media to act and engage local communities in raising awareness around this global health crisis,” the WHO adds.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (MECYS), through the Division for Educational Innovation (DEI), announces a successful first week of the Professional Development in the Dutch Language project. Hosted by the Milton Peters College (MPC), subject and language teachers took part in practical, interactive workshops on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) and on creating highly contextual, language-rich lessons with support from AI.
The trainings held during the week of October 14 -17, 2025, were delivered by Bureau NVT (Ms. Petra Roël and Mr. Guus Perry) and was attended by all Dutch as a Foreign Language (NVT) secondary-level education teachers, as well as the MPC subject teachers.
To support ongoing learning, the project’s online platform includes a CLIL theory library and a catalogue of previously developed, freely accessible materials. This ensures alignment with earlier projects and developments, building on proven practice rather than reinventing the wheel. Teachers will also be able to share, review, and reuse their newly developed lessons. In addition, the teachers will have access to a website for the full duration of the project, which will enable them to develop Dutch-supported lessons, free of charge. This will encourage collaboration and continuous improvement.
During the week, NVT teachers also collaborated to align their curriculum goals, sequencing, and classroom approaches. They held a constructive dialogue with a representative from MECYS, where they shared ideas on resources that will enrich their curriculum. This joint effort signals a strong, shared commitment from all stakeholders to work together and raise educational standards across Sint Maarten.
The week concluded with a strong set of lesson plans shared on the platform. Among them, a geography lesson stood out for its creative integration of language learning, featuring Sint Maarten’s beaches, activities, and local imagery. Drawing on insights from the training and AI tools, the lessons showcased how subject learning and Dutch language development can go hand in hand to benefit local students.
This project is a collaboration across the education ecosystem, involving MECYS, with support of Division of Examinations, Division of Inspection ECYS, and the Division for Educational Innovation. As a next step, teachers will apply the new knowledge and tools in their classrooms. The project will continue with follow-up activities, including additional sessions, lesson coaching, and sharing of results to further strengthen practice and impact.
“This approach helps students build subject knowledge and Dutch proficiency at the same time,” stated lead trainer, Ms. Petra Roël. “I was deeply impressed by the teachers’ hard work this week and their commitment to developing accessible, context-rich lessons. Dutch is a foreign language for the students on Sint Maarten, and they have a right to explicit language support at their level. With targeted support, AI, and open material sharing, we’re expecting to see practical benefits in classrooms across Sint Maarten.”
“As the Manager of the Division for Educational Innovation, I am happy to see this innovative program being executed in the secondary schools. The objective of this training is to equip the teachers with their lesson preparations, instructions, and assessment, which in turn will enhance the participation and performance of their students,” stated Ms. Oralie Boirard.
"I’m truly proud of our teachers for the energy and effort they’re putting into this. Learning in the Dutch language isn’t always easy for our students, but when teachers bring real-life examples and creativity into the classroom, it makes a big difference. This kind of teamwork and innovation is what will keep lifting education on Sint Maarten to higher heights. It’s about helping our students feel confident in both the language and the lessons they learn," stated Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport, Ms. Melissa D. Gumbs.

POINTE BLANCHE:--- The first five cruise ship days took place on Thursday, November 6, 2025, signaling we are now in high season 2025-2026. The ships in port were the Azamara Quest, Star Pride, Valiant Lady, Star of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas, bringing thousands of visitors to the shores of the island, stimulating much-needed economic activity.
The launch of the St. Maarten 2025-2026 cruise season is an incredibly exciting milestone for the destination, marking the beginning of what promises to be a robust period of recovery and growth for the island's tourism sector.
There is a full schedule of major cruise lines and vessels set to visit Port St. Maarten for the 2025-2026 season, which can be found on the newly revamped website of Port St. Maarten (www.portstmaarten.com).
St. Maarten is not just welcoming ships; we are welcoming an essential engine of our local economy.
The next five-ship day will be on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, the country’s national day. The vessels in port on that day will be Britannia, Mein Schiff 2, Celebrity Reflection, Caribbean Princess, and Icon of the Seas.
The first six-ship day will be Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with Britannia, Mein Schiff 2, Icon of the Seas, Renaissance, Carnival Magic, and Carnival Vista.
This influx of visitors signals the continued trust major industry players have in the nation’s port facilities and in the unique, friendly experience that the destination offers.
The focus now shifts entirely to ensure this momentum translates into tangible prosperity for every corner of the island.
This busy season brings immediate and significant economic benefits directly to the core of the island’s business community. Every cruise passenger who steps ashore is a potential customer for our taxi drivers, a client for our tour operators, a diner for our restaurants, and a shopper for our stores and boutiques.
This revenue boost is vital for small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them to sustain jobs, invest in their operations, and, ultimately, improve the quality of life for families across St. Maarten/Saint-Martin. The collective success of the cruise season is measured by the performance of every single business interacting with our visitors.
However, maximizing this benefit requires more than just high passenger volumes; it demands an unwavering commitment to service excellence across the entire island.
Our entire service sector—from the greeter at the pier to the retail clerk and the excursion guide—serves as the face of St. Maarten. We urge every stakeholder to be fully prepared. This means ensuring timely, professional, and courteous interactions, maintaining clean and attractive establishments, and providing authentic, high-quality products and services.
Providing five-star service ensures that our guests leave with positive memories, leading to high satisfaction scores, repeat business, and, most importantly, positive word-of-mouth recommendations that sustain our future growth as a cruise destination.
“I have immense confidence in the professionalism and passion of our island’s workforce. Let us unite to deliver an unmatched visitor experience throughout the 2025-2026 cruise season. The port has done its part in securing the business; now, let us all do our part in delivering the service that justifies our reputation as the premier #1 leading Caribbean port destination.
“We look forward to a rewarding and prosperous season for every resident and business owner who contributes to the vitality of St. Maarten’s thriving cruise tourism industry,” Port St. Maarten Group (PSG) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Alexander Gumbs said on Thursday.