PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten’s President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot, recently returned to the island from Oslo, Norway, where she attended an IPCI conference, a gathering of more than 200 MPs, Ministers, VIPs, journalists, and observers.
Explaining the importance of the meeting in Oslo from April 8 -13th, MP Wescot stated that the last IPCI/ICPD was held six years ago in Ottawa, Canada. “As a member of the Steering Committee for preparing the conference in Oslo, I had traveled to Geneva in September of last year”, MP Wescot further explained.
In 2019, a high-level conference commemorated the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which was held in Cairo in 1994.
The watershed 1994 ICPD in Cairo brought the global community together and reflected on a new consensus about the response to population growth. Delegates also reached a consensus on the inclusion of several issues in the Cairo document, including the relationship between population, environment, sustained economic growth and development; the empowerment of women, population aging; health and mortality, population distribution, urbanization, and internal migration; international migration; reproductive health and family planning; and partnership between Governments and NGOs.
The Oslo conference reviewed the past 30 years of ICPD implementation and resulted in a Statement of Commitment that will be distributed by UNFPA. UNFPA, along with the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, is a key partner of the IPCI/ICPD.
The aim of the IPCI is to mobilize and equip parliamentarians worldwide to actively participate in their country and region in promoting the SDGs as the path to sustainable development and universal human rights as the anchor of lasting development.
The Oslo conference review centered on the comprehensive health areas of the SDGs and on target 3.7 in particular, “Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including the fundamental human rights related to sexuality and reproduction (SRHR)”.
“As a member of the Global Parliamentary Alliance for Health, Rights, and Development, I attended this conference personally as a parliamentarian and funded by the host organizations, however, it is good to note that the country Sint Maarten as a developing country is featured as a participant in these global conferences along with other small island developing states as well as large countries on all continents”, MP Wescot concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, April 20, 2024, at approximately 02:00 PM, the Police Force of Sint Maarten responded to a report of a suspected hit-and-run incident. A police patrol was dispatched to Front Street, where they discovered a male individual sitting on the sidewalk, exhibiting signs of injury, including a bleeding mouth and a swollen forehead. The man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and was barely able to communicate.

Information provided by bystanders indicates that the unknown male victim, under the influence of alcohol, was staggering and collided with one of the benches located on the sidewalk. This caused him to stumble onto the road, where he fell in front of a white taxi, striking the vehicle's front bumper.

The victim was disoriented and unable to provide his name verbally. Additionally, he did not possess any form of identification. Subsequently, he was transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) by ambulance for further treatment. It was observed that the victim's injuries were not severe, but his level of intoxication was notable.

Later, the taxi driver, identified as R. J. G., was located, and a statement regarding the incident was taken from him.

The Traffic Department of the Police Force of Sint Maarten is investigating this incident thoroughly to determine the circumstances surrounding the Hit and Run.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) responded to reports of an explosion at a gray apartment complex in the Pointe Blanche area on Friday afternoon, April 19th, 2024, around 5:00 PM. Upon receiving multiple calls regarding the incident, several patrols, ambulances, and the Fire Department were swiftly dispatched to the scene.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosion occurred when one of the victims attempted to turn on the stove, resulting in a sudden and powerful blast. This unfortunate incident resulted in severe injuries to both individuals present in the dwelling. Immediate first aid was administered before the victims were transported to the medical center for further treatment.

As of the latest update, both victims were air-evacuated for further medical treatment.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten and the Fire Department are diligently working to investigate the cause of this accident.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- It is that time of year when we celebrate one of the largest cultural festivals in our calendar of activities. Each year, we look forward to this celebration, which showcases our culture, creativity, diverse foods and drinks, and is one of the economic drivers within our community—all this amidst the usual “bacchanal” one associates with Carnival. It is a shared culture within our region; however, St. Maarten Carnival is always special.
As Prime Minister and elected member of Parliament of St. Maarten, I would like to address the people and visitors of Sweet St. Maarten.
Carnival is a time to come together to enjoy music, eating, drinking, socializing, and mostly creating. It is a time for our orange economy to shine. Our bands, musicians, songwriters, singers, calypsonians, and soca artists create new rhythms and catchy lyrics to make us jam, dance, chip, and sway. The double entendre and clever wit of the calypso, our traditional social commentary, make us laugh or even give us pause to ponder and reflect.
It is a time for costume and float designers to ply their craft, combining fabrics, beads, wire, colors, textures, and natural and recycled materials to create designs to depict what their imagination conjures and the revelers demand. Talent is displayed by young and old, whether in pageantry, calypso and soca competitions, road marches, or band clashes. Many look forward to the creativity of our cultural dishes and drinks, where the taste buds are tempted, and you can find whatever you desire during the weeks of fettin’.
Today, as this journey commences, let us pledge to be safe amid the festivities. Let us look out for one another and have good, clean fun. I implore parents to ensure the safety of their children throughout these proceedings by ensuring proper child care when they venture out and ensuring that their underage children are not unsupervised in public or attending adult-oriented shows. Our laws specifically mention 15 years and older, and as parents, you have to ensure they don’t attend. Promoters and event hosts are also encouraged to do their due diligence to safeguard the innocence of our youth for as long as possible (NO underage drinking) while ensuring proper security and safety protocols aimed at the prevention of any situation that could endanger the lives of others.

Let us ensure that our children looking on will want to emulate the behavior they see. Let us take responsibility for the types of shows we promote and move away from the exploitation of especially women, in how we write, produce, and create the music. Women are not sex objects, and several have complained about the types of artists/music that are being promoted. While many have been conditioned to think less is best, I hope creativity will be at its highest this year in ways that edify us as a community and ensure the longevity and sustainability of the development of our people. The key is the safeguarding of our culture and promoting and rewarding our creativity. The sneak peeks thus far scream culture, color, and splendor.
St. Maarten has a lot to offer, and it is only by working together as has been mentioned in various meetings that this can be achieved to ensure safety & security for all in a well-organized, well supported festivities where the spirit of Carnival as was envisioned by our forefathers will continue to thrive.
All stakeholders must come together to ensure that our main cultural festival maintains its unique nature while ensuring our cultural heritage is revered. This is not about any one person or entity but about St. Maarten Carnival, which belongs to the people of St. Maarten. Amidst all the complaints over the years, let us seriously come together to resolve the long-standing challenges and work towards a more symbiotic relationship in the interest of all concerned.
I wish all stakeholders, who have been working for months, weeks, and especially the last few days, to prepare for the start of our Carnival, much success in the execution of their goals. To the booth holders, promoters, musicians, artists, dancers, singers, stilt walkers, bands, sound and light technicians, photographers, videographers, media specialists, poets, chefs, cooks, bartenders, grillmen, and all others working behind the scenes to create the magic that is carnival, I wish you much success.
To the people of St. Maarten, go out and enjoy the festivities safely. Support the local entrepreneurs selling their specialty foods and drinks. Enjoy the many cultural and musical shows which have been planned to meet the needs of our very diverse community. Designate a driver to avoid unnecessary accidents. I trust our parades will continue showcasing our creative talents with class and style.
Thanks in advance to Government employees, civil servants who toil yearly to ensure that the St. Maarten Carnival is a success - our police officers, fire fighters, inspectors in various departments, public works who work diligently before, during and after all events to ensure the proper procedures are followed and that all are compliant with the countries laws and regulations.
A happy, safe, and incident-free carnival is wished to one and all!

Prime Minister Silveria E. Jacobs