PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), through its Youth Health Care Baby Wellness Clinic, has planned several vaccine outreach events for community members in May.

The vaccine outreach efforts are geared primarily towards children ages 4 to 9 who have not yet received their vaccine boosters. If parents have missed recent vaccine appointments, CPS encourages them to use this opportunity for children ages 2 months to 17 years old.

Parents and guardians can bring children and teenagers to the clinic at the Vineyard Office Park between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 13; between 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 16; and between 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 27. You should also bring along your child’s vaccination record.

The vaccines that are provided include: DTaP-IPV-Hib (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, and Poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenzae type B), PCV13 (Pneumococcus Conjugate Vaccine 13-valent), MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella), DT-IPV (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Poliomyelitis), and HPV (Human Papillomavirus).

For those who would like additional information to verify their child(ren) 's status or to make an appointment, you can call 721-542-3003 or message CPS via WhatsApp at 721-520-4163.

Vaccination is essential in preventing a wide range of childhood diseases and significantly reduces the risk of illness, disability, and death.

These include conditions such as cervical cancer, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumonia, polio, rotavirus, diarrhea, rubella, and tetanus.

CPS also highlights the importance of the HPV vaccine, which is recommended for girls between the ages of nine and 17. This vaccine offers long-term protection against cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women, making early vaccination a vital preventive measure.

Maintaining routine vaccination coverage is crucial. According to PAHO, gaps in vaccination can leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases such as polio, tetanus, measles, and diphtheria, particularly those with weakened immune systems. Ensuring full immunization not only protects individuals but also strengthens community immunity.

Vaccines remain one of the most effective tools in eliminating childhood diseases. CPS urges parents and guardians to treat vaccination records with the same importance as other essential documents, such as passports or identification, ensuring they are up to date and safely stored.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Construction has begun on the Philipsburg Marketplace without a valid building permit, and while the sound of machinery may feel like progress, MP Darryl York says what is actually happening on that site is illegal. At the most recent public Parliamentary meeting, the Minister of TEATT confirmed on record that no permit had yet been granted and that construction would begin once one was granted. That permit still has not been issued. The equipment is moving anyway. And if you are one of the 400-plus families who have been waiting years for your own building permit, watching your loan get canceled, your construction costs climb, and your life sit on hold, MP York says you already know exactly what is wrong with this picture.

There are over 400 families, small business owners, and everyday people who have been waiting years for their building permits. Years. While they waited, construction costs rose, and their budgets no longer covered what they had planned to build. Pre-approved loans were canceled because banks require a valid permit. Lives put on hold. Businesses that never opened. Homes that were never built. These people did everything right. They submitted their plans. They paid their fees. They waited and kept waiting because the rules said they had to. Now they are watching the government build without the very document it has yet to provide them. Rule for one. Rule for all.

MP York is clear that he supports the development of the Philipsburg Marketplace and the recent urgency behind it. Sint Maarten needs it, vendors need it. But he has said since day one in Parliament: do it the right way, or don't do it at all.

It is not the people's fault, he argues, that the government held a groundbreaking two years ago without a permit in hand. It is not their fault that the design kept changing and the permit kept not coming. And the answer to those failures cannot be to simply ignore the rules that every ordinary resident is forced to follow. If the government can build without a permit, on what grounds can an inspector stop a resident from doing the same? On what authority does a minister lecture the private sector about compliance when the ministry itself is not compliant? You cannot enforce rules you are not willing to follow.

MP York's call to the Government is direct: pause, obtain the permit through the proper process, and then build. Not because he wants to see this project delayed, but because the integrity of the system that over 400 families are depending on and binded too, cannot be selectively applied. Fix the backlog. Streamline the process. Give people their permits.

You do not fix a broken system by exempting yourself from it.

Rule for one. Rule for all.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran is calling for the fair and immediate resolution of the ongoing payment dispute involving Fleming Waste Solutions, stating that while the Government should always work toward stronger administrative structures and formalized contracts, contractors who carry out essential services for the country should not remain unpaid after work has already been executed, verified, and accepted.

Doran said the recent public discussion surrounding the matter requires additional context, particularly as attention now appears to be shifting toward assigning blame instead of resolving the issue responsibly.

“Let us be realistic about how Government operations have functioned over the years,” Doran stated. “While formal contracts are always the preferred structure, not every operational arrangement historically operated that way, especially in areas tied to urgent or essential public services.”

Doran said that while a formal written contract would certainly have been the ideal and more structured approach, the absence of such a contract does not automatically invalidate or make the arrangement illegal where services were requested, carried out, verified, and accepted by the Government through established operational and financial processes.

“The reality is that the government cannot continue benefiting from services rendered and then disregard payment obligations afterward,” Doran stated.

According to Doran, situations involving operational necessity, procurement timelines, budget limitations, and evolving maintenance costs have existed across multiple ministries for years and are not unique to this matter.

“The important point is this: once the government requests the service, the work is executed, the work is confirmed, invoices are submitted, and the government continues benefiting from those services, then the provider deserves to be paid,” he said.

Doran noted that Fleming Waste Solutions continued operating under the current administration for nearly two years, during which the company reportedly continued receiving assignments and payments under the same operational arrangement now being questioned.

“If concerns existed about the structure itself, then those concerns should have been addressed much earlier,” Doran said. “You cannot continue requesting essential services, continue benefiting from the work, and then only raise administrative complications once payments become delayed.”

Doran also encouraged the Minister to engage directly with the relevant departments, financial personnel, and individuals previously involved in the operational process to gain a fuller understanding of how the arrangement evolved over time and how payments were historically handled within Government systems.

Providing background on the matter, Doran explained that following the receipt of heavy equipment from the NRPB for landfill management operations, Government entered into a working arrangement with Fleming Waste Solutions to assist with the operation and maintenance of landfill machinery, including Caterpillar equipment used for daily landfill operations.

At the time, Fleming Waste Solutions already maintained an operational presence at the landfill. Mr. Derrick Fleming is a Certified Diesel Technician and Certified Level 1 CAT Technician, and the company possesses the experience required to service Caterpillar equipment under challenging landfill conditions.

According to Doran, due to the operational realities, evolving maintenance demands, and the need to first establish clearer long-term servicing and repair cost projections, the arrangement developed into a phased operational maintenance structure over time rather than an immediately fixed long-term contractual model.

“This approach allowed the government to better assess recurring operational costs based on actual repairs, servicing history, parts replacement, and ongoing operational usage,” Doran explained. “Like many operational realities within Government, these types of structures sometimes evolve while ministries work through procurement procedures, budgeting limitations, and operational demands simultaneously.”

Doran stated that payments were processed through submitted advice and the normal financial review channels, with supporting documentation and internal checks carried out.

“This was not a situation where random payments were simply being handed out,” Doran stated. “These services were tied directly to maintaining landfill operations and avoiding disruptions to a critical national function.”

Doran added that many long-standing operational arrangements across Government evolved out of necessity where operational realities, procurement procedures, and budget constraints did not always align perfectly.

“Whether we agree with every administrative structure from the past or not, we also have to acknowledge reality,” Doran added. “Fleming Waste Solutions continued carrying out difficult and essential work under extremely challenging conditions while helping maintain continuity at the landfill.”

Doran said the focus now should be on resolving the issue fairly and responsibly rather than allowing the matter to continue dragging on.

“At the end of the day, the contractor carried out work requested by Governments both past and present, work that the Government benefited from, and work tied directly to an essential national function,” Doran stated. “The people carrying out these services earned their wages. The matter should now be resolved responsibly and fairly.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), Richinel Brug, is informing the public of recent developments regarding a reported Hantavirus cluster aboard a cruise ship, while reassuring the community that the risk to Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean region remains low.
According to international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), several Hantavirus cases were identified aboard a cruise vessel currently off the coast of Cabo Verde. As of early May 2026, several confirmed cases and fatalities have been reported, all directly linked to individuals onboard the vessel. Minister Brug emphasized that there is no evidence of spread beyond the ship and that the likelihood of transmission within the Caribbean region is limited.
“Based on the information provided by international and regional health authorities, the risk to Sint Maarten remains low. However, as a country that welcomes a significant number of cruise passengers annually, we remain vigilant and proactive in our approach to public health,” Minister Brug stated.
The Minister explained that Hantaviruses are typically transmitted by specific wild rodents and are not commonly associated with urban environments. This further reduces the likelihood of local transmission within Sint Maarten.
In light of the situation, the Ministry, through Collective Prevention Services (CPS), continues to prioritize strong surveillance and prevention measures, particularly at the island’s ports of entry.
“Our port health systems, including the Maritime Declaration of Health process, play a critical role in identifying and managing potential health risks before vessels arrive. We continue to work closely with international partners to ensure that these protocols remain effective,” the Minister noted.
Minister Brug also highlighted the importance of ongoing collaboration with regional and international organizations such as CARPHA, PAHO, and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to monitor developments and respond appropriately if needed.While no travel or trade restrictions have been recommended, the Ministry remains prepared to take any necessary measures to safeguard public health.
“This situation serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining strong public health systems and preparedness, particularly in a region that plays such a significant role in global cruise tourism,” Minister Brug added.
The Ministry of VSA will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates to the public as necessary.