Pond Island:--- The University of St. Martin (USM) proudly concluded a dynamic two-day seminar and workshop titled *“Climate Policy, Coastal Protection and Vulnerable Communities”*, held on April 10–11, 2025. This regional initiative, organized in the framework of the Island(-er)s at the Helm research programme, successfully brought together climate adaptation experts, community leaders, artists, scholars, and policymakers from across the Caribbean and beyond to explore sustainable, inclusive solutions to climate-related challenges in vulnerable communities.

With the participation of 24 participants in person and over 70 participants from Aruba, Barbuda, Cuba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Saba, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy and Spain, and other countries across Europe, the event marked a significant step in cross-border dialogue and regional cooperation.

Keynote addresses were delivered by Dr. Ofelia Pérez from the Universidad de Oriente in Santiago de Cuba and Ms. Pedzi Flores-Girigori, Head of the Meteorology Office of Curaçao. Both speakers set the tone for in-depth, interdisciplinary discussions across six key themes:
- Climate and Vulnerability
- Policy and Representation
- Voices of the Vulnerable
- Dutch Caribbean Climate Agendas
- Climate and the Arts and Human Expression
- Water, Food and Shelter

The opening ceremony featured remarks by the Honourable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten and Minister of General Affairs, Dr. Luc Mercelina, and Honourable Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Environment (VROMI), Mr. Patrice Gumbs. Both dignitaries urged participants to move beyond sustainability rhetoric and work toward concrete, innovative, and regionally integrated climate solutions for the most vulnerable communities. Minister Gumbs emphasized the importance of breaking through silos to find integrated approaches, while Prime Minister Mercelina encouraged deeper Caribbean cooperation and inclusivity.

USM President Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez opened the event by reminding participants that climate change knows no borders and that it does not discriminate among independent countries ad dependent territories. The university remains committed to fostering dialogue that transcends insular perspectives in the Caribbean.

Highlights from the two-day event included:

- A thought-provoking first panel featuring Dr. Line Algoed who discussed the process of vulnerabilization, linking historical colonial inequalities to contemporary risks, and Drs. Raymond Jessurun, USM Research Coordinator and co-coordinator of the Sint Maarten Anti-Poverty Platform, who offered grassroots insights into current vulnerabilities on the island.

A compelling session titled Voices of the Vulnerable, spotlighting John Mussington, recently elected Chairman of the Barbuda Island Council, and Ashma Berkel of the local NGO Leaders for Change in Sint Maarten, both sharing community-based approaches to resilience building.

A powerful panel on Policy and Representation, which included Mari Villariny Marrero of the Association of Planners of Puerto Rico, VROMI Policy Officers Raitza Narain and Ildiko Gilders, and Ms. Bernadette Davis, Second Vice-President of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, who stressed the need for inclusion of local voices in regional and international policy processes.

An engaging artistic and intellectual exploration during the Climate and the Arts and Human Expression panel, with contributions from Clara Reyes, Head of the Department of Culture, discussing the poetic work of Deborah Jack, alongside local artist Claudio Arnell and postdoc researcher and musicologist Dr. Charissa Granger, who offered a Caribbean cultural lens through the thought of Sylvia Wynter.

- The Dutch Caribbean Climate Agenda panel featured Dr. Timo Kelder of the Climate Adaptation Services (CAS), Delroy Delain and Colby Poerio of EPIC Sint Maarten, and highlighted the importance of community engagement in local environmental efforts.

- Discussions on water, food and shelter included Dr. George Felix** (University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez), Aga Kus, a PhD researcher at Delft Technical University specializing in sustainable housing for Sint Maarten, and Dr. Alejandro Torres-Abreu, who remarked upon the struggle for water justice in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The seminar was made possible through the collaboration of USM, the Ministry of VROMI, the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, and various institutions and civil society organizations throughout the region. The presence of Vice-President Bernadette Davis of the Collectivité signalled a firm commitment to joint action across the island.

Day two of the seminar/workshop consisted of a series of exercises guided by Dr. Perez Monetero which led to the development of a tool to incorporate all stakeholders in community-born initiatives to influence climate policies. Participants included civil servants, representatives of NGOs, community leaders and USM students, who were equipped with the tools to engage the community in the process of policy making.

Through these two days of exchange, the University of St. Martin reaffirmed its role as a regional hub for education and research supporting policy in the face of the climate crisis. The event served as a launchpad for continued collaboration and innovation, centred on the lived realities and cultural strengths of Caribbean peoples.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Honorable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, Dr. Luc Mercelina, issued a forceful condemnation today in response to deeply offensive and inflammatory remarks made by Dutch Member of Parliament Thierry Baudet during a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee for Kingdom Relations on Wednesday.
Baudet, the leader of the far-right Forum for Democracy (FvD) party, proposed that Sint Maarten should be “repopulated” with hundreds of thousands of Dutch nationals to bring the island “completely under control,” presenting a sweeping colonial vision steeped in racial supremacy, demographic engineering, and imperial nostalgia.
In an impassioned response, Prime Minister Mercelina said:
“Sint Maarten is not a commodity to be traded, nor a territory to be reclaimed by relics of a colonial past. We are not the backdrop for someone else’s ambition. We are a proud, self-determined people—anchored in our heritage, alive in our culture, and empowered by our own voice.” The comments made by Mr. Baudet are not only historically tone-deaf, but dangerously racist and deeply disrespectful to the people of this island and the wider Caribbean.”
Baudet’s statement comparing Sint Maarten to Dubai and suggesting that 500,000 Dutch nationals could be moved to the island to alter its demographic composition was met with outrage from both within and outside the Kingdom. He also advocated for turning the Dutch Caribbean into a tax haven and logistical hub akin to Hong Kong or Singapore, while making incendiary remarks about development aid and proposing the use of Saba as a holding station for asylum seekers.
PM Dr. Mercelina emphasized that such rhetoric is a direct threat to the spirit of cooperation and equality that is supposed to define relations within the Kingdom of the Netherlands:
“This kind of colonial fantasy belongs in the darkest chapters of our shared history, not in the democratic chambers of the 21st century. If the Kingdom is to thrive, it must be built on the foundations of mutual respect, dignity, and genuine partnership — not domination, exploitation, or racial superiority.”
The Prime Minister noted that these remarks come at a time when the people of Sint Maarten are actively engaged in building a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future — in close collaboration with regional and international partners who respect the island’s autonomy and aspirations.
“It is shocking and unacceptable that in 2025, any elected official in the Kingdom would suggest that cleansing our culture and flooding our island with settlers is a solution. What we need is solidarity, responsible governance, and bold cooperation to address climate vulnerability, economic diversification, and our people’s well-being — not arrogance and absurdity.”
Prime Minister Mercelina called upon all members of the Dutch Parliament, especially those within the Committee for Kingdom Relations, to publicly reject Baudet’s statements and reaffirm their commitment to the core principles of human dignity and democratic values.
“The Kingdom must never be a place where voices of division are louder than those of unity and justice. Let this moment serve as a litmus test of who truly believes in decolonization, equality, and a future where all partners in the Kingdom stand shoulder to shoulder, not foot on neck.”
The Government of Sint Maarten stands firm in its commitment to democratic values, equal rights, and respectful engagement. It will continue to call out rhetoric that seeks to dehumanize or delegitimize its people.

MARIGOT: --- French law enforcement officials have arrested a man seen assaulting a young woman in a shocking viral video that has garnered widespread attention this week. The arrest took place on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Gendarmerie. The disturbing footage has sparked outrage online and reignited discussions around domestic violence in the region.
The 44-second video, recorded with a stationary phone, captured the man aggressively confronting and physically attacking the woman. The video began circulating early Wednesday morning and quickly spread across social media platforms, fueling public outcry. Authorities have identified the suspect as a resident of the French side of St. Martin.
Sources close to the investigation revealed that the woman in the video, contrary to earlier reports, has family living on the Dutch side of the island in Sint Maarten. It is also alleged that the woman has been in a long-term abusive relationship with the man, with incidents of violence dating back several years.
The case has added urgency to ongoing conversations about intimate partner violence in the region. Advocacy organizations are renewing their calls for stronger victim support systems and more accessible intervention resources. They are also emphasizing the need for swift judicial action to protect individuals facing abuse.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release further details in the coming days.
This incident has brought the persistent issue of domestic violence into sharper focus, underlining the importance of collective efforts to address and prevent such acts of harm.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis has strongly condemned the disturbing video circulating online that shows a woman being violently assaulted by a man in St. Martin. The footage has sparked outrage and deep concern across the community.

"I am horrified and deeply disturbed by this act of violence towards a woman. I am a father of three daughters," MP Lewis said. "Such brutality has no place in our society, especially against women. We must come together to protect our women and ensure our communities are safe for everyone."

MP Lewis extended his strength and full support to the victim, offering heartfelt wishes for her recovery and healing. "To the woman who endured this terrible act, I stand with you. I pray for your strength, full recovery, and peace of mind during this incredibly difficult time. You are not alone."

MP Lewis also called on authorities to take swift and decisive action. “Justice must be served. This kind of violence must be met with the full force of the law, and our systems must ensure that perpetrators are held accountable.”

In light of the incident, MP Lewis is urging for increased community vigilance, improved protective measures for vulnerable women.

"We must work relentlessly to build a culture that values respect, dignity, and safety for all," he said. "Together, let us say no to violence and yes to a future where everyone feels safe in their own community."