PHILIPSBURG:---  Kooyman is proud to announce its dynamic and innovative sponsorship of the 2025 St. Maarten Carnival in partnership with the St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation. This year, Kooyman is stepping up its commitment to the community by creating meaningful and engaging experiences inside Carnival Village and along Pond Fill Road, enhancing the festival atmosphere for both visitors and local vendors.
As part of its sponsorship, Kooyman will introduce several key activations. The Kooyman Link Up Cornuh will feature four newly designed seating areas within Carnival Village, providing comfort and convenience for festival-goers while increasing seating options for booth holders.
Additionally, Kooyman is sponsoring this year’s Booth Holder Competition, celebrating the creativity and dedication of food vendors. In the following days Kooyman will roll out the guidelines for the competition and announce the prizes that are to be won.
To further enhance the experience, Kooyman will also contribute to the beautification of the Carnival Village entrance, making it a more welcoming and visually appealing space. This should allow for visitors to have great photo opportunities.
President of the SCDF Edwardo Radjouki said: “We are extremely proud to welcome Kooyman as the newest corporate partner of St. Maarten Carnival,” said SCDF President Edwardo Radjouki. “Their commitment to enhancing the festival experience, especially through their support of our booth holders and the exciting new Link Up Cornuh, is a clear reflection of their community spirit and innovative approach. This partnership marks the beginning of something truly special, and we are enthusiastic about growing this relationship in the years to come. Kooyman’s presence in Carnival Village this year will undoubtedly add another vibrant layer to what is already the most thrilling time of year on the island.”
Kooyman recognizes that food is at the heart of St. Maarten’s Carnival tradition, and booth holders play a crucial role in preserving and celebrating the island’s rich culinary heritage. This initiative reflects Kooyman’s dedication to giving back to the community while providing an enjoyable and comfortable experience for all festival attendees.
Carnival is a time of unity, culture, and celebration, and it’s important that both booth holders and visitors have a fantastic experience. The Kooyman Link Up Cornuh and other initiatives are all about bringing people together over great food and tradition while celebrating one of the largest events of St.Maarten: Carnival.
Kooyman invites everyone to enjoy this year’s Carnival and experience the community spirit that makes St. Maarten’s festival so special. Starting this Saturday, Kooyman launches its highly anticipated Carnival Shirt campaign. Shoppers who spend $40 or more will receive an exclusive Carnival shirt—a limited-edition collector’s item—available while supplies last. The excitement for Carnival is building and Kooyman is looking forward to actively support this annual event.

~Starting today, Monday~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Tzu Chi Foundation has joined the global effort to aid victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar and the surrounding regions recently. As part of this initiative, the foundation will hold daily donation drives throughout April to raise funds for the relief efforts.

The drives will take place every Monday through Saturday, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on Back Street in Philipsburg. The public is invited to join in, with volunteers seeking to extend compassion and solidarity to the people of Myanmar, in line with Tzu Chi’s core values of love and unity.

The foundation was moved to act after witnessing the distressing reports on Da Ai TV.

Tzu Chi Commissioner Sandra Cheung said that Tzu Chi Founder Master Cheng Yen’s teachings continue to guide the organization’s efforts, reminding everyone that “the greatest challenge today is the lack of good-hearted people.” St. Maarten volunteers continue to spread compassion by offering the public opportunities to do good, regardless of how small the gesture may seem.

In March 2025, Tzu Chi St. Maarten held eight fundraising activities to support local poverty relief efforts, benefiting approximately 1,000 families each month with food and care. The foundation focuses on the frequency of kindness rather than the size of individual donations. Volunteers believe that “goodness lies in the frequency of our kindness, not the size of our contribution.”

Over the course of these efforts, 38 volunteers visited 166 shops and received donations from 224 individuals, raising a total of $1,832.86 USD. One volunteer reflected: “When we go out, we are not just asking for donations — we’re sharing a chance for people to bring out the goodness in their hearts. More good people create more harmony in society.”

  Tzu Chi St. Maarten is grateful for the ongoing support of the local community, particularly in the aftermath of hurricanes Irma and Maria. As Master Cheng Yen often emphasizes, Tzu Chi’s aid is made possible through the generosity of people worldwide, and in turn, it is our responsibility to help others in need.

The organisation calls on everyone to continue supporting their mission and join the global movement of compassion and giving. “Let’s come together and send our love to Myanmar,” Tzu Chi St. Maarten urges, upholding the spirit of “Great Love without Borders.”

Donations can also be made to Tzu Chi’s WIB bank account number 21932201.

Pond Island:--- TelEm Group is enhancing its “Always On Data service”, giving prepaid customers unprecedented control of their mobile data usage.
The new feature is available via the company’s new “Always On for Every Moment” campaign which kicks off this week.
The campaign is aimed at educating and engaging customers about the benefits of the new service for more efficient use of data and cost savings.

It is rolling out across various channels, including social media, radio, television, newspaper, and in-person events—ensuring that customers across Sint Maarten feel engaged and informed about the benefits of Always On Data.

“By making it possible for customers to opt in or opt out of this service at any time, TelEm is ensuring a seamless and customizable data experience to meet the individual needs of everyone,” says TelEm Group on the launch of its campaign.
The new service is aimed at prepaid mobile customers who can simply send an SMS message 'AO ON' or 'AO OFF' to 1000 to opt in or opt out of their data usage at any time.

“Subscribers can choose the convenience of automatic connectivity, deciding when to activate their data manually, or selecting one of TelEm’s many convenient 1-day, 7-day, or 30-day data plans for even more choice,” the campaign promoters say.
They say since introducing the Always On Data service, customers have been asking for even better ways to maximize their data usage and also better ways to keep track of data usage.
The company says it listened to its customers and came up with the expanded feature “Always On for Every Moment”.
“While the great majority of our customers have enjoyed the convenience of the service offered, we have nevertheless taken note of customer feedback to make the service even more flexible and tailored to individual needs with the new enhancements,” says TelEm Group.
The company says an educational video series will guide users on how to opt in and opt out of Always On Data. Additionally, practical data-saving tips will be shared, helping customers learn how to maximize their data and adjust smartphone settings for a more efficient experience.

The campaign features well-known local influencers, community leaders, and everyday TelEm Group customers who are coming together to deliver the clear message that staying connected is essential, and TelEm Group is here to ensure that no moment is ever missed.

“With “Always On for Every Moment,” TelEm Group is putting the community first with a series of customer-focused initiatives, interactive events, and educational content.”

To further engage and connect with the community, TelEm Group will be hosting several Community Family Fun Days across Sint Maarten. At these days, customers can experience Always On Data firsthand, enjoy exclusive giveaways, and take advantage of special offers.

Customers will also have the opportunity to meet TelEm Group representatives in person, ask questions, and receive hands-on demonstrations of the Always On Data service and more.

At the heart of this campaign is the power of local voices, and for this, TelEm Group has partnered with familiar faces in the community—including influencers, entrepreneurs, artists, and athletes—who all rely on staying connected for their success.

For more information on Always On Data, visit www.telem.sx and follow TelEm on Facebook and Instagram (@Telem) to stay updated on upcoming events and campaign highlights.

Dear Editor,

St. Maarten, our little paradise in the Caribbean, is no stranger to weathering storms—both literal and figurative. However, the latest challenge blowing in from the north isn’t a hurricane; it’s a wave of tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. With a baseline 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S. and steeper reciprocal tariffs on certain countries—some as high as 50%—global trade is reeling, and St. Maarten could feel the ripple effects in a big way. As an island that imports virtually everything from food to furniture, mainly via the U.S., even if the goods originate elsewhere, these tariffs could mean one thing for the average consumer: higher prices. All eyes are now on the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT) and her Senior Policy Advisor to steer us through this mess.

Let’s break it down. St. Maarten doesn’t produce much locally—our economy thrives on tourism and what we bring in from abroad. A huge chunk of those imports, whether it’s a bag of rice, a flat-screen TV, or a case of Heineken, comes through U.S. ports or from American suppliers, even if the stuff was made in China, Europe, or Latin America. Trump’s tariffs don’t just hit goods made in the U.S.; they jack up the cost of anything shipped to or through the States. That means the price tag on everyday items could climb from 20% to 40% in some cases, depending on how businesses pass on the costs here.

Take a simple example: a gallon of milk. Maybe it’s sourced from a U.S. distributor, even if the cows are in Wisconsin or elsewhere. That 10% baseline tariff—or higher if it’s tangled up in reciprocal duties—gets tacked onto the wholesale price. Shipping companies, already squeezed by global trade tensions, might hike their rates too. By the time milk hits the shelves at Carrefour or Cost-U-Less, you’re paying $6 or $7 instead of $5. Now multiply that across your grocery list—chicken, cereal, diapers—and suddenly, your weekly shop is $50 more expensive. For a family already stretched thin, that’s a punch to the gut.

Or think about bigger purchases. Say you’re eyeing a new sofa from a U.S.-based retailer like Ashley Furniture. The price was already steep because of shipping to an island, but now add a tariff bump—it could be 20% or more if the materials came from a “high-tariff” country like China (which faces a 34% levy). That $1,000 sofa might now cost you $1,200 or $1,400. The math gets even uglier for small businesses importing goods to sell—think electronics, clothing, or construction materials. They’ll either eat the cost (unlikely) or pass it on to you, the consumer.

So, what’s at stake? A lot. If prices soar unchecked, it’s not just about tighter budgets—it’s about tourism taking a hit too. Visitors might balk at $15 burgers or $200 hotel sundries, and that’s a problem for an island where every dollar counts. But here’s where hope comes in: the Minister of TEATT and her Senior Policy Advisor, a duo with a track record of tackling crises, are in the hot seat to figure this out.

The Minister, Grisha Heyliger-Marten—yes, wife of Theo Heyliger—brings a steady hand and a deep understanding of St. Maarten’s economic pulse. Her Senior Policy Advisor, Rolando Brison, says what you will about his past is undeniably one of the sharpest minds in our political landscape. This isn’t their first rodeo. Brison, in particular, was a key player in navigating St. Maarten through the COVID-19 pandemic, helping keep our economy afloat when the world shut down. Together, they’ve got the experience and brainpower to make this tariff turmoil manageable.

What can they do? For starters, they could push for creative trade workarounds—maybe lean harder on direct imports from Europe or the Caribbean to bypass U.S. ports. They might negotiate with local businesses to absorb some costs or lobby for subsidies to cushion the blow. And with their political savvy, they could even press the Dutch government for support, given St. Maarten’s status in the Kingdom. It’s a tall order, but if anyone can pull it off, it's these two. Their past political or otherwise differences seem irrelevant now; this is about results.

SMN News says let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Sure, prices might spike 20% to 40% if nothing’s done, but Heyliger-Marten and Brison have a chance to prove they can keep St. Maarten steady. The timing’s almost poetic: two heavyweights, once at odds, are now united by necessity. If they put their heads together, we might just come out of this better than expected. For now, stock up on that milk—and watch TEATT—the island’s counting on them.