Milestone edition supports local breast cancer awareness, Positive and Elektralytes foundation.s

SIMPSON BAY:--- The 10th Anniversary Pink Sunset Sail has made history as the largest edition to date, welcoming 300 guests across four boats for an unforgettable evening of unity, awareness, and fundraising. Thanks to the overwhelming support of the community, sponsors, and ticket buyers, the event raised just over $12,500 in support of the Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation.

Guests gathered at the Pink Mixer at Aqua Mania Adventures at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina to kick off the afternoon with rosé, snacks, live steel pan music, a 360 photo booth, and face painting before setting sail. Four catamarans — Lambada, Tango, and two Golden Eagle catamarans from Out Island Charters — departed together for a stunning sunset cruise, and the highly anticipated onboard raffle. With over 200 prizes donated by generous local businesses, the raffle once again underscored the island’s incredible spirit of giving.

“This is a milestone event for us,” said Michele Korteweg of Shortcut 2 Success, event organizer on behalf of Aqua Mania Adventures. “Seeing four boats sold out, record fundraising, and such energy from our community, shows how deeply this cause resonates. It’s a beautiful reminder of what we can accomplish together.”

 “We extend our deepest gratitude to Aqua Mania Adventures and their incredible team for hosting and supporting the 10th Anniversary Pink Sunset Sail with such passion and dedication.” Sail Shelly Aphonso on behalf of the Positive Foundation.

“To every participant who came aboard to sail, celebrate, and support the cause — thank you for keeping the spirit of hope and awareness alive for ten wonderful years. Here’s to 10 years of sailing for a cause — and to many more sunsets shared in strength, solidarity, and survivorship!” continued Mercedes van der Waal-Wyatt on behalf of the Elektralytes Foundation.

The funds raised will help both the Positive and Elektralytes Foundations continue to provide free mammograms for uninsured women and distribute educational materials throughout the community.

The Pink Sunset Sail, organized annually by Aqua Mania Adventures, has become one of the island’s most beloved Breast Cancer Awareness Month traditions. Over the past decade, it has raised vital funds to support education, early detection, and access to mammograms, empowering the local community in the fight against breast cancer.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina delivered a powerful address marking nearly 15 years of constitutional autonomy, calling for a fundamental overhaul of Sint Maarten's relationship with the Netherlands and its Caribbean sister islands. Arguing that the current structure is an "expensive and inflated" illusion, the Prime Minister outlined a bold new vision for the nation's future, urging a move away from historical constructs and toward direct, individual partnerships.

In his speech, titled "Sint Maarten: 15 Years of Constitutional Autonomy – Lessons, Prospects, Achievements," Dr. Mercelina asserted that Sint Maarten's survival is better secured as an autonomous constituent state, but only if the Kingdom of the Netherlands is redefined entirely.

"The real question we must ask ourselves today is not what the past fifteen years have done to Sint Maarten, but rather, how has our long and complex history shaped these past fifteen years of autonomy?" Dr. Mercelina began, framing the island's journey within a 170-year context.

A Call to Dismantle Old Structures

A central theme of the address was the need to abandon outdated frameworks. The Prime Minister called for an end to the "CAS construction" (referring to Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten) and the "Country Consultation" (vier-Landen Overleg), arguing these concepts are relics of the dissolved Netherlands Antilles.

"The term 'Netherlands Antilles' is gone, yet we have reintroduced the same concept under the name CAS. For me, CAS is wishful thinking," he stated. "It is time for Sint Maarten to define its own relationship with the Netherlands — just as Aruba and Curaçao must define theirs."

He proposed replacing these multi-island forums with direct, bilateral relationships between each Caribbean country and the Netherlands. This, he argued, would decolonize communication lines, which he described as "at least six controlling and ineffective communication layers" that weaken dialogue. "My dialogue partner as Prime Minister should be the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and not the State Secretary," he declared.

Prospects for a Redefined Kingdom

Dr. Mercelina laid out a thirteen-point plan for the nation's future, focusing on co-ownership, equality, and practical nation-building. Key proposals include:

• Shared Responsibility: Defense, healthcare, and education should be shared responsibilities within the Kingdom, but not based on the principle of "who pays determines."

• Political Dialogue Platform: The establishment of a permanent Kingdom Political Dialogue Platform where all four countries can meet as equal partners.

• Democratic Deficit: A call to find "radical solutions" for the democratic deficit within the Kingdom Council of Ministers to ensure fair and effective representation.

• Economic Stability: Prioritizing a balanced national budget and exploring dollarization, following the model of Saba, Statia, and Bonaire.

• Strengthening National Pillars: Fortifying the six essential pillars for a constituent state: the airport, harbor, telecommunications, utilities, the hospital, and a sustainable budget, which he currently assesses as not "strong and stable enough."

Lessons from the Past 15 Years

Reflecting on the period since Sint Maarten gained country status on October 10, 2010, the Prime Minister identified several critical lessons. He noted that the country became "hypnotized by the idea of independence," focusing on proving its self-sufficiency to the Netherlands while neglecting to build alliances with other Caribbean nations outside the Kingdom.

He also criticized the island's institutional structure as a "hydrocephalus" — an oversized head for a small community of 60,000 people. He listed the Council of Advice, General Audit Chamber, Ombudsman, and other bodies as contributing to a financially burdensome system.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Mercelina celebrated the nation's achievements, including the establishment of these very institutions as a sign of democratic maturity and a commitment to good governance. He also pointed to infrastructure developments like the airport, harbor, and the new hospital currently under construction.

"We have inherited a history that has not always been ours to choose, but the future is ours to claim," he concluded. "May God bless Sint Maarten in the great work of nation-building."

PHILIPSBURG: --- On October 15, 2025, at the Governor's Symposium held at the American University of the Caribbean, Drs. Eugene B. Holiday, President of the Holiday Institute, delivered a powerful keynote address reflecting on Sint Maarten's 15-year journey as a self-governing country. His speech, "Fulfilling the Promise of Country Status, A Vision Driven Journey," offered a comprehensive look at the nation's past, a candid assessment of its present, and a bold vision for its future.

Dr. Holiday began by inviting all citizens to unite as "fellow custodians of Sint Maarten's future," proposing a shared vision: "Sint Maarten as the Gold Standard for progress, governance, and Innovation in our region." This ambitious goal sets the stage for a deep dive into the meaning and challenges of self-governance.

The Promise of 10-10-10

On October 10, 2010, Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a status born from its people's "unwavering belief in our right of self-determination." Dr. Holiday defined the promise of country status as a commitment to responsible self-governance aimed at building a strong nation and improving the well-being of its people, guided by local values and needs within a framework of cooperation.

This milestone was not easily achieved. It was the culmination of over a century of calls for greater autonomy, solidified by a June 2000 referendum where nearly 70% of voters chose country status. What followed was a decade of intense and often "tense and heated" negotiations.

The central issue was defining the boundaries between Sint Maarten's authority and the Kingdom's oversight. Debates raged over financial supervision, law enforcement, and the very definition of self-governance. The process, which involved five target date changes, tested the resolve of "Team Sint Maarten," the small group of representatives who championed the nation's cause. Their persistence finally paid off, marking a hard-won victory for the island.

15 Years of Experience: A Mixed Reality

Reflecting on the past 15 years, Dr. Holiday acknowledged the "meaningful progress" made in building the country's institutions from the ground up. However, he presented a candid picture of the socioeconomic journey, which he described as "mixed."

Economic Gains and Social Gaps:

• Sint Maarten's GDP per capita has impressively grown from approximately USD $26,386 in 2011 to an estimated USD $38,154 in 2024, placing it among high-income countries.

• However, this growth has not benefited everyone equally. A significant income gap persists, with 60% of workers earning less than USD $1,875 net per month. This disparity, coupled with a high cost of living, impacts critical areas like education and health, undermining national progress.

• Other persistent challenges include youth unemployment, crime, brain drain, and environmental issues like waste management.

Instability and External Shocks:
Progress has been significantly hampered by internal and external factors.

• Political Instability: Between 2010 and 2024, Sint Maarten had eleven different governments, with an average term of just under 16 months. This constant churn created an uncertain policy and investment climate.

• External Shocks: The nation's vulnerability was exposed by four major shocks: the 2007-2009 great recession, the devastating 2017 hurricanes, the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and subsequent global inflation. These events led to volatile economic growth, averaging just 0.4% over the period.

To manage the fallout, Sint Maarten secured Dutch funding, which reignited familiar debates over Kingdom authority versus country autonomy, highlighting the urgent need for a formal dispute resolution mechanism. The economic pressures also caused the national debt-to-GDP ratio to climb from 15.4% in 2010 to 49% in 2024, limiting the government's ability to invest in key priorities.

A Vision for the Future: The Gold Standard by 2035

Despite the challenges, Dr. Holiday emphasized a message of hope and potential, noting that the overall economic trend, though modest, is upward. "Where do we go from here?" he asked, challenging the government and its people to aim high and harness the opportunities of the 21st century.

His answer is Vision 2035, a cohesive national strategy to mark the silver anniversary of Country Status by transforming Sint Maarten into "the Gold Standard for progress, governance, and innovation in the region."

The mission is to become a knowledge-driven, digital society that is more economically self-reliant, climate-resilient, and powered by solar energy. To achieve this, Dr. Holiday outlined a seven-point strategic roadmap:

1. Human Development: Prioritize investment in education and health. This includes overhauling school curricula to focus on STEM, digital fluency, and civic education; establishing a civil servant training program; and creating an incentive program to bring skilled professionals back home.

2. Digital Transformation: Accelerate the digitization of government services and invest heavily in data infrastructure, AI, and digital literacy to avoid falling behind.

3. Solar Energy Transition: Advance energy independence and lower electricity costs by transitioning all government buildings to solar by 2030 and implementing phased community solar microgrids by 2035.

4. Sustainable Economy: Upgrade the tourism product, enforce smart conservation policies, invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, and broaden the economic base by developing knowledge-based sectors like technology and healthcare.

5. Active Regional Strategy: Become an associate member of CARICOM and position Sint Maarten as a regional leader by hosting an annual digital and green technology conference.

6. Fiscal Reform: Fund these strategic investments by reprioritizing budgets and broadening the tax base, including a proposed USD $20 sustainability fee for non-resident air passengers.

7. Exemplary Governance: Prioritize sound, data-driven financial management, recognizing that "financial independence is the foundation for policy independence and thus for self-governance."

Dr. Holiday concluded his address with a powerful call to action. "The choices we make in the next decade will shape the next half-century," he declared. He stressed that fulfilling the promise of Country Status requires moving beyond discussion to decisive action on human development, digitization, sustainability, and self-governance.

By drawing lessons from the past and uniting behind a shared vision, Sint Maarten has the opportunity to build a stronger, more resilient future. The journey is a difficult one—an enterprise in the truest sense of the word—but by investing in its people and its potential, Sint Maarten can transform itself into the regional G

PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on October 16, 2025.  

The Public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 16.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Question hour: Questions from MP D.T.J. York directed to the Minister of Finance regarding oversight of TelEm and management accountability (IS/120/2025-2026 dated October 1, 2025) 

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament