PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, advises the Sint Maarten community to continue to practice prevention measures on a daily basis as the world observes Global Handwashing Day on Tuesday, October 15.

Global Handwashing Day is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases, the spread of germs, and save lives.

Washing hands often reduces the transmission of diseases such as respiratory illnesses such as the flu, common cold and COVID-19.

It is also very important to wash hands with soap before cooking or preparing food, before eating, and before feeding someone (including breastfeeding) or taking care of others ill or not.

Help children to stay healthy by teaching them about handwashing and show them how to properly wash their hands. Wash your hands with clean, running water and soap for 20 seconds, in general, and before and after handling food.

If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 per cent alcohol.

Many infections start when hands are contaminated with disease-causing bacteria and viruses. This can happen after using the toilet, changing a child’s diaper, coughing, sneezing in your hands, touching other people’s hands, taking care of ill persons, and touching other contaminated surfaces.

Handwashing with soap works by removing bacteria and viruses from hands before they get a chance to cause infections or spread to other people. Handwashing stops the spread of germs! Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related sicknesses and one in five respiratory infections.

Join CPS in their efforts to continue to promote proper handwashing in your home, school, or workplace.

For more information, you can call CPS 914, 542-1570 or email cps.healthpromoThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Global Handwashing Day was founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership, and is an opportunity to design, test, and replicate creative ways to encourage people to wash their hands with soap at critical times. 

From October 4th to 8th, 2025, the PSA Athletics Association proudly hosted the second annual Paradise Showdown 15U Basketball Tournament, a five-day event featuring over 90 young athletes competing at the highest level. The tournament officially kicked off on Saturday, October 4th, with an inspiring opening address by the Honorable Ms. Melissa Gumbs, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (ECYS). Over 1,700 viewers tuned in via the Association’s YouTube livestream, in addition to the audience present at the venue. Founder and tournament organizer Mr. Omar Beauperthuy also delivered remarks, introduced each participating country, and their national anthem or song was played, setting a spirited and respectful tone for the event. The first match of the tournament featured host country Sint Maarten taking on Grenada, with Sint Maarten securing the win. From October 5th to 7th, training sessions were held for each participating team and was led-by invited coaches from the United States. These sessions focused on conditioning and technical skill development. In addition, referee workshops were conducted by a FIBA-certified official from the Netherlands Basketball Bond (NBB), providing morning and post-game sessions to improve officiating standards. Over the past eight months, three coaches two from Sint Maarten and one female coach from Saba, participated in an online Level 3 Coaching Certification program. During the tournament, they successfully completed the practical portion of their final assessment, marking a significant milestone in their coaching development. Based on feedback from several countries, this year’s event also included training sessions for girls. These sessions, held for 1.5 hours each day over four days, allowed the girls to train exclusively with the coaches visiting, taking an important step toward expanding inclusivity in the tournament. The final day of the tournament featured the third-place match between Sint Maarten and Aruba, with Sint Maarten emerging victorious. Prior to the championship game, a new feature was introduced: the All-Star Game. Twenty-four standout players excluding those in the finals were selected and presented with commemorative jerseys. The teams, named Sunrise and Sunset, battled it out, with Sunset claiming the win. In the championship match, reigning champions Saint Martin delivered a dominant performance against Curaçao, winning 92–55 and successfully defending their title. Under the leadership of Coach Hyman and Coach Mataly, the team extended its undefeated streak for a second consecutive year. This year's tournament provided even greater exposure and opportunities for young players, and anticipation is already being built for next year. The dates for Paradise Showdown 3 have been officially announced: October 3rd–7th, 2026. Interested countries are encouraged to reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., for more information or to express interest in participating. But the year isn’t over yet! PSA Athletics Association continues its mission to develop youth sports with the ongoing High School Basketball League. The season will conclude with the High School Basketball League Championship Week, taking place from November 4th to 6th, 2025, at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium. Admission is just $2, and food and drinks will be available for purchase. Come out and support your favorite school! Current team rankings can be found on our social media platforms.

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) convened the 8th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (COM:FA) on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, held against the backdrop of global geopolitical volatility, economic uncertainty, and climate crises, brought together OECS Foreign Ministers to chart a unified course on matters critical to the resilience and survival of small island developing states.

The Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, underscored the urgency of the Council’s work, emphasizing that the challenges facing the region demand swift, coordinated, and sustained action. He highlighted that the Council’s deliberations are not just procedural, but vital to shaping policies and programmes that directly impact the resilience, sustainability, and prosperity of OECS Member States. He said: 

“In the face of turbulence, our mandate is clear: to safeguard resilience, defend sovereignty, and chart a sustainable future for our people. The complexity of today’s environment reinforces one central truth: our strength lies in solidarity and strategy. We cannot influence global outcomes alone, but together we can ensure our voices are heard and our interests are defended.”

Looking ahead to his tenure as incoming Chair of the COM:FA, Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, emphasised:

“Our states, though modest in size, are indispensable voices in the global community, and we must continue to advocate for the relevance of small states. The seas are rising, but so too is our steadfastness. The challenges gather, but so too does our unity. And in this eighth meeting of COM:FA, may we craft not only a record of proceedings, but a roadmap worthy of our peoples’ hopes and history’s demands ”

The session commenced with the handover of the Chairmanship from the Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs of Saint Lucia, to the Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, and Consumer Affairs of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. 

Ministers deliberated on a wide range of issues and agreed on decisive steps to safeguard and advance the OECS interests, including:

The meeting brought together Ministers of Foreign Affairs from OECS Member States, who convened to deliberate on shared priorities and advance a unified regional agenda, including Hon. E.P. Chet Greene - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Barbuda Affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, Hon. Joseph Andall - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development, Grenada and Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Economic Development, International Trade, Investments and Industry and Commerce, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Council closed the meeting with a renewed sense of purpose, emphasizing that the decisions taken were not just administrative outcomes but concrete steps to protect livelihoods, strengthen regional unity, and amplify the Caribbean voice on the global stage. Ministers agreed that the coming months will be critical for advancing key priorities, including climate advocacy ahead of COP30, safeguarding the region’s economic interests, and strengthening the OECS’ joint diplomatic presence worldwide. To this end, a special virtual meeting will be convened before November 2025 to accelerate work on joint mission restructuring and to consolidate progress on the Council’s commitments.

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Miami, Fla. --- Travelers across the Caribbean are demanding more authentic, locally sourced food, products, and cultural experiences. Yet new survey findings from research conducted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) with 18 of the region’s  National Hotel & Tourism Associations (NHTAs) reveal that hotels face major barriers in meeting that demand, ranging from unreliable supplies to limited government support. CHTA is drawing attention to these insights as part of its ongoing push to strengthen linkages between tourism and local industries.

According to the NHTAs, supply remains one of the toughest challenges: more than half (56%) said local producers cannot consistently provide the quantities needed, with many also citing inconsistent quality and lack of variety.

Most associations cited a need to boost support for increased local purchases by the tourism industry, helping to reduce high production costs.  Seventy-six percent (76%) said utility subsidies are non-existent or ineffective; 64% said more effective tax incentives for hotels to purchase locally would encourage greater industry purchasing, strengthening domestic producers’ ability to compete on price; and 56% said incentives to boost local production could be improved.

Saint Lucian entrepreneur Vaughn Constable, founder of Twist Saint Lucia and a participant in CHTA’s Linkages showcase, which connects tourism businesses with local suppliers, illustrates the challenge. “There’s so much pride in creating Caribbean-made products,” said Constable. “Every bag, every package carries a piece of our identity — our flavors, our culture, our craftsmanship. Travelers love that authenticity; they want to taste and experience something that’s truly from here, but the logistics, volume and costs make it difficult for small producers to compete locally and regionally, even when there’s strong demand from hotels and travelers.” 

During a recent CHTA Linkages webinar, representatives from successful efforts by the Government of Jamaica, the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association and the hotel sector pointed to their successes and echoed the concerns raised through CHTA’s research. They identified urgent priorities such as better data sharing, more efficient regional logistics, and stronger financial support for small businesses.

“CHTA’s role is to amplify the collective voice of our National Hotel & Tourism Associations,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, Linkages Task Force Chair and Immediate Past President of CHTA. “These findings reinforce what we have long advocated: travelers want authentic Caribbean experiences, but systemic barriers prevent hotels from fully meeting that demand. By working with governments and partners, we can create the policies and systems that ensure tourism delivers stronger benefits to Caribbean people and communities.”

Looking ahead, CHTA is intensifying its efforts to connect buyers and suppliers, create a more competitive pricing environment, strengthen distribution networks, and help entrepreneurs scale their businesses. Strengthening local and regional cooperation on logistics and financing also remains a top priority, making it easier for hotels to source Caribbean first.

“The Caribbean has many of the ingredients to succeed, with talented entrepreneurs, agricultural and manufacturing capabilities, rich cultural traditions, and an unmatched tourism product,” added Madden-Greig. “If we break down the barriers and strengthen these linkages, we can ensure more visitor spend stays in our economies, supporting livelihoods and building a stronger, more sustainable future for the region.”

To further drive collaboration, CHTA will host a dedicated Linkages Showcase at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), November 16-18 in Barbados, spotlighting regional producers and suppliers that support the hospitality sector. The association is also undertaking a detailed assessment of regionally sourced product lines which are available to the hospitality sector.