PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran is raising concerns over what he describes as a lack of communication from Minister of ECYS, Melissa Gumbs, regarding the future of the Sister Marie Laurence School.

While acknowledging that the demolition of the former school building was a necessary and long-awaited step, MP Doran says the process appears to have stalled at precisely the moment when clarity is most needed. Since the demolition several months ago, he notes, there has been no public update from the Minister on when reconstruction will begin or how the project is expected to move forward.

“The demolition marked progress,” Doran stated. “But progress without follow-through is not enough. Once that phase was completed, the logical next question is when construction starts, and on that, the Minister has been silent.”

Doran pointed out that the school building permit was issued in 2023, during his tenure as Minister, to avoid administrative bottlenecks and allow the project to advance smoothly. Against that backdrop, he is now seeking answers on the preparatory work carried out since demolition and on what is causing the apparent delay in moving to the construction phase.

The MP is also pressing for clarity on the project's financial side, particularly regarding the widely discussed 10 percent down payment to a foreign contractor for school construction. Although the Minister has indicated that the contractor is no longer involved, Doran says this does not automatically close the matter.

“We understand that the contractor is no longer part of the discussion,” he said. “But a significant amount of funds was already paid. It is only reasonable to ask how that situation affects Sister Marie Laurence School and what it means for planning and timelines going forward.”

In that context, Doran also expressed the hope that local contractors were given a fair and genuine opportunity to bid for the reconstruction of the school, emphasizing that local participation and capacity-building should be an integral part of major construction projects on Sint Maarten.

MP Doran has since written formally to the Minister of ECYS outlining these concerns and is now awaiting a formal response.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Corporate sponsorship for Contestant #3, Breyenne Brown, is off to a strong and promising start as she prepares for the Senior Carnival Queen Show 2026, scheduled for April 20th at the Jocelyn Arndell Festival Village, during Carnival’s landmark 55th edition.
Since November of last year, Breyenne Brown and her team have been reaching out to the business community through sponsorship letters, sharing a journey rooted in pageantry, cultural pride, and community representation. That journey gained meaningful momentum with the support of Penha, who came on board as a corporate sponsor.
Through the leadership of Ms. Sharine Duncan, Commercial & Marketing Coordinator, Penha’s partnership reflects a commitment to supporting pageantry, celebrating Carnival, and empowering women through purposeful collaboration.
“My team and I are truly grateful to Penha for believing in my journey,” said Breyenne Brown. “Their support represents encouragement, partnership, and the importance of community involvement.”
Speaking on Penha’s involvement, Ms. Sharine Duncan shared, “Supporting Breyenne is about celebrating pageantry, culture, and the spirit of Carnival. As we mark the 55th edition of Carnival, Penha is pleased to support initiatives that honor tradition, empower women, and bring our community together. We wish Breyenne every success as she continues her journey.”
As preparations continue toward April 20th, Breyenne Brown’s journey reflects the power of collaboration and the positive impact of corporate support in strengthening cultural and community-driven initiatives.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Where Culture Lives project has successfully completed its survey phase across Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten. The project team extends sincere appreciation to the public who participated, and in particular to the island coordinators and surveyors whose dedication ensured strong community engagement across all six islands.
Titled “Your Voice, Where Culture Lives,” the survey explored how arts, culture, and heritage shape everyday life on the ABCSSS islands. It invited the public to share insights on how they engage with culture in their communities; where culture takes place, what supports it, and what barriers still exist.
The survey phase was conducted within a focused timeframe, from the end of November 2025 through early January 2026, following the focus groups held in August and September last year. Despite the busy end-of-year period, all islands completed their data collection on time. Participation ranged from 40 to 150 respondents per island, reflecting island size, representation, and the effectiveness of local outreach.
Overall, participants responded positively and shared clear priorities. Many pointed to the need for more funding and training opportunities for creative entrepreneurs, alongside more accessible spaces to practice, develop, and showcase art and heritage. Others highlighted the importance of improving cultural education in schools.
With the survey phase now complete, the project team has begun interpreting and analysing the results. They will come together at the end of January, and this collaborative interpretation phase aims to move beyond numbers alone, giving meaning to the findings
within their cultural, social, and island-specific contexts. The outcomes will feed directly into island-based validation sessions scheduled for early April, where draft findings will be discussed with artists, cultural and heritage organisations, government representatives, knowledge partners, and other key stakeholders.
Participants will then offer feedback, which will help to strengthen community ownership of the results and also support the development of recommendations for future cultural policy and investments across all islands.
“As a lead team and as researchers, we are committed to ensuring that the findings form a shared foundation,” says Jorien Wuite, project lead. “This exploration gives us some great insights on cultural mapping across the Dutch Caribbean, and we want the results to meaningfully support future action as well as island-specific policy priorities for government officials and other stakeholders. That is why we are happy and proud to have received support for this additional phase with validation sessions, more co-creative discussions, and broad representation.”
“The insights gathered through this research will help us understand what makes each island’s culture and heritage distinct, while also allowing for careful comparisons that honour differences and illuminate shared patterns,” said Ludmila Duncan, one of the lead researchers. “That balance is essential if cultural research is to be both reliable and impactful.”
The Where Culture Lives team is also proud to announce the development of the Where Culture Lives Prize, a supportive competition on each island that will invite artists and cultural practitioners to submit work celebrating cultural life and creatively expressing ‘where culture lives’. This competition is set to be like no other; grounded in communities, inspired by everyday life, and centred on what culture looks and feels like across the islands. Further details about this prize will be shared by the end of January 2026.
The Where Culture Lives project was commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in The Hague and on Bonaire (OCW and OCW-CG), and is managed by St. Maarten-based consultancy Lemonade B.V.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, wishes to inform the public—particularly residents of Sucker Garden and surrounding neighborhoods—that as of Wednesday, January 21, 2026, he and his Cabinet will be situated in Hope Estate, and fully functioning at the VSA Community Helpdesk.

This initiative is part of Minister Brug’s commitment to the people of Sint Maarten to make 2026 an even more community-oriented year, bringing him and the Ministry closer to the people it serves and strengthening direct engagement at the neighborhood level.

The Minister and his Cabinet will be working their regular hours at the VSA Helpdesk. Members of the public will be able to meet directly with Minister Brug and his Cabinet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to visit the Helpdesk, schedule appointments, and share their concerns, questions, and experiences. These engagements will assist the Ministry in better understanding community grievances and ensuring that policies and services are more closely aligned with the real needs of the population.

It is the intention that Minister Brug and his Cabinet will be stationed at the various VSA Community Helpdesks on a rotating basis, enabling broader outreach across different districts. A rotating schedule will be communicated to the public in due course.

In addition, senior citizens who wish to be considered for the GEBE relief program and require assistance with completing the registration form are encouraged to visit the Community Helpdesk. The Cabinet will be available to provide hands-on support, similar to the assistance offered to seniors last year.

Minister Brug emphasized that listening to the community and being present are essential to effective governance. “We cannot serve the people properly if we are not accessible to them. This is about being visible, approachable, responsive, and about shaping policies together with the community,” the Minister stated.