THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE):--- For the first time since 1985, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s General Conference is being held outside Paris, with Uzbekistan hosting the 43rd session in the historic city of Samarkand.
The biennial conference gathers representatives from all UNESCO Member States, observers, and intergovernmental organizations to set the agenda for the organization’s global priorities in education, culture, science, and communication.
UNESCO is a specialized agency dedicated to strengthening our shared humanity through the promotion of education, science, culture, and communication. The organization sets standards, produces tools, and develops knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and fosters a world of greater equality and peace.
Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its 194 Member States across the globe.
This year, Her Excellency Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, Minister Plenipotentiary of Sint Maarten, addressed the General Conference on behalf of the Honourable Melissa D. Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.
In her remarks, Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell highlighted Sint Maarten’s progress in education reform, digital innovation, and cultural protection, emphasizing that “AI must amplify Caribbean creativity, not appropriate it.”
She underlined Sint Maarten’s new Higher Education and Research Ordinance, which sets national standards for quality assurance and international accreditation. The law, she said, “ensures that education remains a public trust, strengthens accountability, and affirms that learning is the foundation of national resilience.”
The Minister also spoke of Sint Maarten’s integration of Artificial Intelligence and STEAM education in schools through new partnerships with the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation, the St. Kitts & Nevis Robotics Association, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Robotics Association, aimed at creating a Robotics Unit and hosting an annual STEAM camp.
Building on the message from MONDIACULT 2022 and 2025, she reaffirmed Sint Maarten’s cultural vision: “Culturize before you digitize. We do not reject technology; we seek to humanize it. AI must serve inclusion and integrity, not imitation.”
Minister Arrindell also noted Sint Maarten’s leadership in heritage protection, referencing the establishment of the first Caribbean Cultural Emergency Response (CER) Sub-Hub, and ongoing work toward a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, underscoring the island’s belief that “human progress and environmental stewardship must evolve together.”
Youth empowerment was another key theme. Through the National Youth Mainstreaming Strategy, Sint Maarten is embedding youth participation and evidence-based planning across all government sectors. In 2025, three local high schools joined the UNESCO Associated Schools Network, connecting students to global education initiatives.
The Minister concluded by expressing gratitude for UNESCO’s continued support and for giving small island nations a global platform: “Together, may we build a world where knowledge inspires peace, and culture lights the path forward.”
During her introduction of her speech, Minister Arrindell also extended solidarity to the people of Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba, and the other countries that were affected by Hurricane Melissa.
The 43rd UNESCO General Conference will be marked by the official appointment of UNESCO’s next Director-General and the anticipated adoption of the first global Recommendation on the Ethics of Neurotechnology.
The Conference will also feature thematic debates, exhibitions, and side events exploring the future of education, science, culture, and information.
The 43rd UNESCO General Conference runs from 30 October to 13 November 2025, with additional events in Tashkent, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shahrisabz.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The call for accountability at the highest levels of Sint Maarten’s government has been brought to light, as Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes today demanded the immediate resignation of Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten. This comes in response to grave allegations and the reaffirmed $92 million liability for her husband while in office.

The mission of the Social Economic Council (SER) to foster social and economic development through diversification, labor market advancement, healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability serves as a benchmark for transparent and ethical governance in Sint Maarten. Lacroes asserts that this mission and the people’s trust, are now threatened by the ongoing legal crisis at the heart of government. The SER gives solicited and unsolicited advice, as we have not received any unsolicited advice. MP Lacroes is now formally requesting a solicited advice on whether this a sound healthy investment for both foreigners and locals alike?

The Court of First Instance recently reaffirmed that the former minister exploited his political power to disrupt a major port development, seeking personal financial benefit and causing substantial reputational and economic harm to the country. “These are not trivial accusations,” stated MP Lacroes. “They strike at the heart of public trust and the rule of law.”
Minister Heyliger-Marten, as Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication, is responsible for sectors directly affected by the current scandal. Her continued presence in office while these grave allegations remain unresolved constitutes a direct conflict of interest and erodes confidence in government and, in extension, Parliament.

“This is not a personal attack. This is an unwavering stand for principled leadership and true accountability,” said Lacroes. He emphasized that Sint Maarten’s government must demonstrate its commitment to justice, transparency, and impartiality, urging Minister Heyliger-Marten to step aside until the matter is fully resolved.
MP Lacroes concluded: “Let us show the people of Sint Maarten and the world that our nation values good governance above all else. Only by acting now can we restore the people’s trust and move our country forward with integrity and unity.”

The recent 21,5% low turnout for the Dutch elections on Bonaire is a clear wake-up call to the politicians from Bonaire. The people refused to give up and to give in to the pressure put on them by the local politicians from MPB, DP, UPB and M21 to go vote. The people’s heroic stance shows a renewed determination to continue the fight against the perceived oppression by the Second Chamber in The Hague since 2010. Also protecting the 2015 referendum in order to put Bonaire on the protective list of the United Nations. It sends a message louder than any campaign slogan or press release: the people are against the imposed rule by the Dutch Parliament.
This wake-up call has several layers. The low turnout shows many Bonairians feel disconnected from both local and Dutch politics — they no longer believe their vote will bring real change. For many, not voting has become a silent act of protest.
Local leaders: a clear hypocrisy exposed -There is also a flagrant contradiction in local politics. Weeks before the elections, Bonairean politicians went to Aruba, Curacao, St Maarten, and condemned The Hague for taking major decisions without consulting the island. Yet during the elections, those same politicians urged people — loudly and aggressively — to vote for the very Dutch parties and politicians they had just condemned. This only deepened the division among the Bonaire people and exposed a hypocritical, unprincipled leadership. The low voter turnout is not apathy — it is a message. It is a rejection of the current political system, culture, and leadership. The People are calling for honesty, accountability, and real representation. This is a wake-up call for every leader on Bonaire to reflect, reconnect, and rebuild trust.
2012 – 2025: The Boycott as Organized Resistance - Since 2012, James Finies has urged Bonairians to abstain from Dutch parliamentary elections, arguing that participation only legitimizes an imposed political status — not a true democratic choice. (https://youtu.be/OzyJXdUp-N0?si=KzvEETIc_sVKHMvF) He organized anti-Second Chamber campaigns in 2012, 2017 and 2021, offering protest-voting options with citizens’ own Dutch voting cards. These actions helped keep turnout in the low 20’s % for more than a decade. (https://youtu.be/Kv_uVChdp00?si=0_BhdcobBPoAbtgR)
Since 10-10-10, Bonaire’s status as a “public entity” has reduced local autonomy and subordinated the island to unilateral decisions from The Hague. Finies argues that by voting, Bonairians would imply consent to this structure, and therefore weaken their claim to self-determination. His call — “throw away voting pass” / “don’t vote” — was framed as a political protest, not disengagement.
Over time, turnout trends suggest many people became conscious. Abstention became a deliberate act of resistance — not passive apathy — but a refusal to legitimize a political arrangement imposed without consent.
The media is not reporting the real story - Press coverage — especially in the Dutch media — with headlines claiming that Party X or Party Y “won on Bonaire” does not reflect the reality on the ground. With such low participation, it is misleading to claim that any party won the support of the people of Bonaire. Many intentionally chose not to participate as a silent protest. Bonairians deliberately stayed away from the polls — rejecting all political parties and once again rejecting the system imposed on them to be governed by the Dutch Parliament in The Hague.
The Real Winner: The People of Bonaire -The real winner was the people of Bonaire, who demonstrated resilience and resistance. They withstood continuous pressure, manipulative campaigns, debates, and repeated urgings to vote — from their own government and political leaders in Bonaire and those in Holland, mainstream and social media figures, family and friends acting as surrogates, religious authorities, private-sector leaders, and even the governor, who was used as a political instrument against the people of Bonaire.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance received the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission team, led by Mr. Smith, currently conducting a Central Bank Transparency Code (CBT) review on request of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS).
In July 2020, the IMF Executive Board adopted the Central Bank Transparency Code (CBT) as a voluntary framework to help central banks assess and strengthen their transparency practices. The Code aims to enhance communication with stakeholders, reinforce public trust, safeguard central bank independence, and promote accountability in the execution of monetary and financial stability policies.
The CBT defines transparency as an institutional feature that ensures comprehensive public access to information about the central bank’s mandate, operations, and governance while maintaining an appropriate balance between openness and legitimate confidentiality.

As part of the review, the IMF team is assessing CBCS’s transparency practices across all aspects of its work. The review process includes an analysis of publicly available information such as publications, legislation, policy documents, and the central bank’s website, alongside interviews with external stakeholders to gather perspectives on the accessibility, clarity, and transparency of information shared by the CBCS.
Upon completion of the assessment, the IMF will prepare a draft report for sharing with the CBCS. The final report is expected in the first half of 2026, after which the CBCS will decide whether to make it publicly available.

During the meeting, the Minister shared her input, based on her experience, on the transparency, consistency, and clarity of information shared by the CBCS. Minister of Finance Marinka J. Gumbs expressed appreciation for the IMF team’s visit and noted the importance of this initiative in strengthening financial governance and transparency. She stated that she looks forward to the report and emphasized that she would like to see the differences between Curaçao’s and Sint Maarten’s perspectives reflected in the findings.