Cul de Sac, St. Maarten:--- The Foundation for Academic and Vocational Education (FAVE) closed its golden jubilee celebrations on Friday with a landmark event that underscored its leadership and collaborative spirit in shaping the future of education. The FAVE AI & STEAM Conference, hosted at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC), brought together nearly 200 secondary school teachers, school leaders, policymakers, regional experts, and industry partners under the theme “Reimagining Teaching and Learning with AI and STEAM.”

The conference featured keynote addresses, hands-on breakout sessions, and a thought-provoking panel discussion designed to equip educators with practical tools to prepare students for the digital age.

In her welcome, FAVE Executive Director drs. Tallulah Baly called the gathering both historic and forward-looking: “Today is not just another gathering; it is the culmination of our golden jubilee—50 years of FAVE: A Legacy of Excellence. What began as a bold vision five decades ago has flourished into an institution that continues to shape minds, transform lives, and lead the way in education on St. Maarten and beyond.”

She reminded attendees that the event was more than symbolic: “This conference is more than an event; it is a call to action. It is a call to embrace innovation, to reimagine our classrooms, and to prepare our students for a world that demands creativity, critical thinking, and courage.”

“Together, we must ensure that AI and STEAM are harnessed not only for progress, but also for service to humanity,” she added.

National voices framed the day with a shared vision. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina connected educational innovation with sustainable development, economic growth, and global competitiveness. Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs, spoke on her policy vision for integrating AI and STEAM across St. Maarten’s schools, urging educators to embrace innovation while keeping student success and national development central.

“You, our educators, are not only…translators of knowledge, but [also] creators, facilitators, and innovators. Reimagining teaching with AI and STEAM means we also have to reimagine ourselves”, she said.

FAVE Board Vice-President, Mrs. Esmeralda Rommy, linked FAVE’s legacy to its forward-looking commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

The conference was masterfully guided by Dr. Ife Badejo, Emcee and Panel Moderator, and founder of Islandpreneur, which equips entrepreneurs with practical, scalable strategies and AI Islands—a first-of-its-kind platform uniting leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to co-create AI solutions tailored for island contexts.

Keynote speakers brought global and regional perspectives to the conference. Dr. Gale Rigobert, educated at the University of the West Indies and the University of Cambridge, has spent more than two decades shaping policy at the intersection of education, technology, climate resilience, and gender equity. She emphasized that “AI and STEAM are not just tools for the classroom; they are gateways to equity, opportunity, and resilience for future generations.” Her work continues to inspire transformative action, ensuring that AI and STEAM are leveraged to unlock opportunity and empower future generations.

Complementing her vision, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ricardo Neil, Goodwill Ambassador for Science and Technology and founder of both the St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association and the OECS Robotics Association, shared insights drawn from his authorship of over 18 publications, including widely used CXC Information Technology and Applied Science textbooks. He reminded participants that “education must not only keep pace with emerging technologies but lead their ethical and sustainable use across our region.”

Breakout sessions allowed teachers and managers to engage in parallel tracks. Teachers explored AI-driven lesson planning, assessments, and student projects with facilitators such as Mr. L. Nicholls (Science), Mr. M. Cooks (Technology & Business), Ms. J. Presentacion (Language Arts), Mr. A. Roper (Mathematics), and Mr. N. Blaise (Social Sciences). School managers participated in sessions led by Mr. Gregory Richardson and Mr. Marcus Nicolaas, focusing on administrative efficiency, predictive analytics, and ethical use of AI.

A panel discussion on “Smart Tech, Safe Schools: Ethics, Policy, Data & Human Connection” reinforced the need to balance innovation with privacy, ethics, and meaningful human connection.

Baly also praised the organizing committees and volunteers for their dedication. Standout leaders included Mrs. Ashley-Browne (logistics and flow of operations), Mrs. Olivacci (coordination of facilitators and keynote speakers), Mrs. Lourens (co-author project proposal), Mr. King (IT and conference website), Ms. Small (Technical program and content), Mrs. Nelson and Ms. Artsen (Registration), Ms. Payne (Ushers and Volunteers) and Mr. Fleming (facilities setup). Volunteers from across all FAVE departments played a vital role in supporting participants and ensuring smooth operations. “This is what true collaboration looks like. This is what service with purpose feels like. Together, we have not only organized a conference—we have created an experience that will shape minds, spark ideas, and inspire transformation,” she said.

The success of the event was also attributed to sponsors and partners. AUC was recognized as collaborative partner, while Computech served as lead technology partner and largest financial supporter. Major supporters included the Government of St. Maarten (MECYS Innovations Department) and NAGICO Insurances, with 0 to 14 providing in-kind sponsorship of 250 conference kits. Other sponsors included Penny’s Department Store, Century 21 Real Estate, Boolchands, and Shoppers Haven, alongside community partners Islandpreneur, Forward Focus, Print Express, and Good News Baptist Church.

Looking ahead, Baly emphasized that the conference was both a milestone and a springboard: “The path ahead is ours to shape. We will walk it with purpose, lead with vision, and let our light shine brightly for all to see.”

Simpson Bay:---  Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) is proud to announce that it has finalized an agreement with Southwest Airlines to launch nine weekly flights to St. Maarten beginning in Spring 2026. This milestone marks a significant boost for the island’s connectivity and tourism sector, further cementing St. Maarten’s position as the gateway to the Caribbean.

The announcement follows extensive discussions with the leadership team of Southwest Airlines. As part of this process, PJIAE hosted a delegation from Southwest Airlines on the island last month for a week of meetings, site visits, and curated experiences. This engagement provided parties an opportunity to explore mutual interests and highlighted the tourism offerings and business potential on both the Dutch – and French sides of the island.

Starting April 7th, 2026, Southwest Airlines will operate once daily service between Sint Maarten and Orlando, as well as twice-weekly nonstop service between Sint Maarten and Baltimore, in peak schedules on Saturdays and Sundays. Through those gateways, the Southwest flights will provide connecting access each week to Sint Maarten from more than 40 airports.   

“Securing Southwest Airlines with nine weekly flights is a great achievement for PJIAE and St. Maarten,” said Mr. Michael Cleaver, CEO & President of PJIAE. “It not only expands our route network but also creates tremendous opportunities for tourism growth, trade, and cultural exchange. We are grateful for the strong collaboration with our government and tourism partners that made this possible.”

The introduction of Southwest Airlines to the island is expected to significantly increase visitor arrivals, providing a direct economic impact across hospitality, dining, entertainment, and local businesses via the new service from the largest air carrier in the United States.

The Honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT), emphasized the importance of this new partnership:
“This agreement with Southwest Airlines represents a new chapter for St. Maarten’s tourism industry. Our goal has always been to strengthen our airlift and make our island more accessible. Southwest Airlines serves more than 100 destinations across the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. By connecting this extensive network to Sint Maarten, we are opening new doors for visitors to experience the warmth, beauty, and vibrancy of St. Maarten. I commend the PJIAE team and our partners for their dedication and hard work in realizing this accomplishment.”

Southwest Airlines also expressed excitement about the new service. “St. Maarten is a destination our Customers have been eager to see added to our network,” said Steven Swan, Managing Director of Network Capacity, Strategy, and Alliances, Southwest Airlines. “With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality, St. Maarten is a perfect fit for Southwest’s mission of connecting people to what matters most in their lives. We look forward to flying our Customers here and building a strong relationship with the island.”

Princess Juliana International Airport looks forward to welcoming Southwest Airlines and its Customers, further enhancing its role as a premier hub in the Caribbean.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (VROMI) informs the public that two civil servants have been placed on administrative leave pending internal investigation. This action allows for the proper review of internal ministry matters and is being executed in accordance with established civil service regulations and government protocols.  These actions reflect our dedication to proper governance, transparency, and administrative accountability.

The Ministry wishes to assure the public that interim arrangements have been implemented to ensure that all essential services and operations continue without interruption.

During this process, information regarding the investigation will only be issued as is necessary, out of respect for the privacy of those concerned and confidentiality and integrity of the procedure. Therefore, the public is encouraged to follow official channels for any announcements related to this investigation.

The Ministry remains committed to striving for dedicated service and professionalism in pursuit of its commitment to serving the people of Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As the new school year 2025/2026 begins, the Police Force of Sint-Maarten (KPSM) will once again be actively present in the South Reward and St. Peter's areas to regulate traffic, minimize congestion, and support a safe opening week for schools. These areas are known to experience heavy traffic during school drop-off and pick-up times, given the concentration of high schools in the district.

KPSM is calling on all motorists, including school bus drivers, to strictly adhere to traffic laws and exercise patience during peak hours. Drivers are strongly urged not to stop in the middle of the road to drop off or pick up students, as this disrupts the flow of traffic and creates unsafe conditions. Instead, parents and bus drivers are reminded to use designated drop-off and pick-up points wherever possible.

Bus drivers are further requested to avoid using the back roads through Betty’s Estate, Saunders, and Ebenezer, since the narrow corners and curves in these neighborhoods lead to additional congestion and increase risks for other road users.

In addition, KPSM highlights the importance of carpooling as a practical way to ease traffic congestion in the South Reward and St. Peters areas. While not yet a common practice on Sint- Maarten, carpooling could significantly reduce the number of vehicles on the road during peak school hours, contributing to smoother traffic flow and increased safety.

The Police Force of Sint-Maarten thanks the community for its cooperation and reminds all road users that ensuring student safety and better traffic flow is a shared responsibility.

KPSM Press Release.