THE HAGUE:---  Last week, the Ocan Foundation Office received a visit from author Beverly Whitfield.

Whitfield is no stranger to the Ocan Foundation. In 2018, the proud Saban shared her story in the popular Ocan's Spotlight series. Her life story and motivation inspired many in the Netherlands and on the islands. At 13, she left the Windward Islands to pursue secondary education on Sint Maarten, and at 16, she continued her studies on Curaçao. From Curaçao, she moved with her family to the Netherlands. When Whitfield informed us that she was diligently working on her first book, "The Island Remembers," and it had recently been published, she was invited to The Hague to share more about her new work. Ocan director Lionel Martijn, MSUS was handed the signed copy on behalf of Ocan.

A Caribbean trilogy

The Island Remembers is a novel, a lyrical love story about memory, longing, and the courage to return. But it also reflects how life was on Saba decades ago. Many children of the soil had to leave the island for education and opportunity, and in doing so, they left behind homes, families, and sometimes first loves. While the story is fiction, it reflects truths that many in our communities recognize. And it also carries a message for women in midlife: that love, renewal, and the possibility of a second chance are still very real.

The second book will be published at the end of October 2025. The author wants to launch book three on her beloved birth island of Saba. This is symbolically scheduled for February 14, 2026, Valentine's Day. The author also has a couple of firsts to her name: she is the first Saban to publish a romance novel, and the first to publish internationally.

 ‘Later is now’

Whitfield worked in the financial world for many years, first on Curaçao and later in Amsterdam’s Zuidas business district. She is motivated to reinvent herself. She has become a personal coach for many women struggling with weight issues, and she is even a driving force behind a popular restaurant and catering business within her family. Also, she is working on the Midlife Body Wisdom Series, a collection of e-books that support women in menopause. At the Ocan Bureau, Whitfield aptly said, "Later is now." With this step, Whitfield wants to encourage other Caribbean women to do new things.

Part 1 of her trilogy is available for purchase on Amazon as a paperback or an e-book, and will later be published as a hardcover. Download a free chapter of the book: www.beverlywhitfield.com

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) has issued a General Stop Order for all residents and ongoing construction activities in the "Over the Bank" area of Upper Prince's Quarter, Sint Maarten. This action follows the Ministry's Inspection Department's discovery of numerous construction projects being carried out without the required building permits.

The Ministry has deemed these activities illicit and a violation of several articles of the Building Ordinance (AB 2013, GT no. 136), including Articles 7, 10, 61, and 64.

Enforcement and Compliance

Residents and anyone involved in construction in the designated area are legally summoned to immediately halt all construction.

Non-compliance with this order will result in serious consequences, including:

• Administrative enforcement at the offender's expense.
• Legal prosecutorial measures.
• The Ministry may remove the project at the offender's full expense.

Next Steps for Residents Affected by the Order

The ministry encourages residents affected by the order to visit the

VROMI Inspection Department or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Residents also have the right to file an objection or appeal the decision:

• Objection: A note of objection can be filed with the administrative authority that made the decision within six weeks of the order's issuance.
• Appeal: An appeal can be made to the Court of First Instance St. Maarten within six weeks of the order's issuance.

The Ministry of VROMI expects the full cooperation of all residents to ensure compliance with this order.

Beatrix on her upcoming visit to Bonaire and Sint Eustatius in November. The visit will be centered around nature and society, highlighting the strong connection between the islands’ communities and their unique natural heritage. Throughout the visit, Princess Beatrix will learn more about local conservation and restoration initiatives. DCNA is pleased that this special occasion provides an opportunity to highlight the important work of our local park management partners, STINAPA Bonaire and STENAPA St. Eustatius, who play a leading role in protecting and restoring the islands’ natural environments. “We are proud to host Princess Beatrix and share the dedication and achievements of the many organizations working every day to protect and restore our islands’ natural environments,” said Arno Verhoeven, DCNA Director. “This visit is a meaningful opportunity to draw national and international attention to the crucial role of nature for our communities, economies, and future resilience.” The visit also coincides with the launch of the Conservation and Restoration of Key Habitats Program by DCNA and its partners. This multi-year initiative focuses on the protection and restoration of five critical ecosystems across all six Dutch Caribbean islands: coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove forests, tropical dry forests, and tropical wet forests. Through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and targeted action, the program aims to ensure these ecosystems continue to provide essential services for both nature and people. By highlighting these projects during the Princess’s visit, DCNA and its partners hope to inspire continued support for conservation and restoration efforts across the Dutch Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams on Thursday reported key outcomes from the recent Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO), including a new commitment that every IPKO will begin with formal follow-up on decisions taken at the previous meeting.

“Too many times we’ve agreed on actions that then quietly dissipate. From now on, every IPKO starts by checking what was done and decided before,” said MP Wescot-Williams.

Top outcomes highlighted by MP Wescot-Williams

Standing follow-up item: Each IPKO will review the status of decisions from the prior IPKO.

Geopolitical updates: Parliaments, especially those directly affected in the Caribbean, are to receive timely, direct information on developments in the Kingdom’s region of responsibility.

Council of State (70 Years of the Charter) advice: Countries will respond to recommendations; Sint Maarten’s government has already issued a reaction, which MP Wescot-Williams says Parliament should now debate.

Aging population: The islands will leverage Dutch analytical capacity to map trends and plan for aging—“a cross-Kingdom challenge we must prepare for together.”

“The presentation we received on geopolitical developments was sobering. This is not alarmism—it’s prudence. Parliament must be informed in real time,” she concluded.