PHILIPSBURG:---  The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA), through Collective Prevention Services (CPS), wishes to reassure parents, educators, employers, employees, and the wider community that proactive measures are being taken to promote healthy environments and minimize the spread of respiratory illnesses.

Following recent reports of respiratory illnesses at Charlotte Brookson Academy for the Performance Arts, including a confirmed COVID-19 case and flu-like symptoms among students and teachers, the Ministry acknowledges the concerns expressed by parents and school personnel. The school's temporary closure to facilitate cleaning and sanitization reflects its precautionary approach.

CPS remains actively engaged in promoting preventive measures and public health awareness to protect the community.

The Ministry encourages schools, businesses, and other institutions to strengthen every day preventive practices, including regular handwashing, proper respiratory etiquette, adequate ventilation, and routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces.

Employers are encouraged to support employees experiencing respiratory symptoms by allowing them to remain at home when ill and promoting workplace practices that reduce the risk of transmission. Students and staff who are unwell should also remain at home, consider wearing a well-fitting mask when around others, and seek medical attention when appropriate.

The Ministry emphasizes that the situation calls for awareness, cooperation, and responsible action to avoid unnecessary alarm. Schools, businesses, and the wider community all have an important role in limiting the spread of respiratory illnesses.

Staying up to date with recommended vaccinations helps to protect the community.  The Ministry encourages persons to engage with their house doctor or pharmacist to learn which vaccinations are available.

The Ministry of VSA remains committed to safeguarding public health and encourages everyone to remain vigilant and take the necessary preventive measures especially as we approach the respiratory illness season.

For further information or assistance, schools, businesses, and members of the public may contact Collective Prevention Services at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call          (721) 542-1570 or 914.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Restoration can begin with something as simple as a book; a moment to pause, reflect, create, or discover a new way to understand ourselves and others.

This message was reflected in three books generously donated by author and facilitator Amy Arrindell to the Sint Maarten Library during the Early Learners BookStart Campaign 2026.

The donated titles are Your Little Recharge: Small Steps of Self-Empowerment, Confidence, and Emotional Regulation; My Compassion Superpower: Pause. Think. Choose Kindness: An Interactive Book About Empathy and Better Choices for Children and for Adults to Restore; and Restored in Color: A Therapeutic & Manifestation Coloring Book.

Your Little Recharge will be included in the Early Learners BookStart gift for the youngest children attending the Grand Celebration on September 19, 2026, at Emilio Wilson Park. My Compassion Superpower encourages empathy, kindness, and better choices for children and the adults who guide them, while Restored in Color formed the basis of the September 17, 2026, workshop for parents and caregivers, focusing on creative expression, reflection, and restoration.

Sint Maarten Library staff and community members warmly received the donation, which adds meaningful resources to the Library’s collection. It also demonstrates how books can support children and adults alike through reading, creativity, emotional awareness, and personal growth.

The Sint Maarten Library thanks Amy Arrindell for her generous contribution and for supporting the Early Learners BookStart Campaign through both her books and the “Restored in Color” workshop.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) will mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Month with a week of activities focused on dementia awareness, education, and support for people living with dementia, their families, and caregivers.

As part of the week, WYCCF healthcare professionals will participate in specialized training on person-centered communication and dementia care. Informal caregivers from the community are also invited to attend one free workshop, offered twice: Monday, September 21, and Wednesday, September 23, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at WYCCF. This workshop will provide practical tools to communicate with confidence, understand challenging behaviors, and respond calmly and compassionately to someone living with dementia. Registration is free through the QR code provided with the workshop information, and you can sign up till 4:00 PM on Monday, September 21.

On Wednesday, September 23, WYCCF will also offer a free dementia screening from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We encourage community members, particularly older adults and those concerned about changes in memory or thinking, to take advantage of this opportunity. The screening is intended to promote awareness and early identification; it is not a diagnosis! If you can’t make it on Wednesday, there’s another option right after the Walkathon on Sunday, at the same location.

The community is further invited to join “Memories in Melodies – Karaoke Evening” on Thursday, September 24, at the new WYCCF Daycare PG Building in St. John’s Estate. The evening starts at 6:45 pm and will include food, drinks, karaoke, presentations, and information on dementia and Alzheimer’s awareness; it is open to everyone.

The week will conclude with the Dementia Awareness Walkathon on Saturday, September 26, from 5:30 AM to 8:30 AM. The Walkathon will start and finish at WYCCF, following a route through L.B. Scott Road, Welgelegen Road, Bush Road, A.T. Illidge Road, Zagersgut Road, and Coralita Road before returning to WYCCF.

All participants will receive a T-shirt and a healthy breakfast, and proceeds from the Walkathon will support Alzheimer’s awareness initiatives. A small trolley train will accompany the walk for participants who need a break or cannot complete the full route on foot. WYCCF is grateful to We Tour BV for sponsoring the train and to Maureen of Captain’s Rib Shack for donating the healthy breakfast.

Tickets cost $15 and are still available through WYCCF Dementia Case Managers Michelline Hunte (581-4951), Minerva Maccow (588-1460), and Vaitaire Overman (585-4681).

Dementia care remains an important part of WYCCF’s ongoing work. Through Daycare PG, WYCCF provides specialized care for people living with dementia, giving informal caregivers time to work, manage their responsibilities, or simply take a much-needed break. WYCCF also organizes Alzheimer’s Support Groups every other month, providing caregivers with information, support, and an opportunity to share their experiences with others who understand.

WYCCF encourages everyone to participate in activities throughout the week and help raise awareness of dementia and its impact on individuals, families, and the wider community.

The Perpetual Plastics team and Freegan Food Foundation are proud 2nd-place winners of the National Volunteer Awards, hosted by the Association for Volunteerism in the Netherlands. The Perpetual Plastics Team won second place in the ‘Nature and Environment’ category, covering SDGs 13, 14, and 15. The Freegan Food Foundation earned second place in the ‘Livelihood Security’ category, under SDGs 1 & 10. There were 5 second-place categories to be won, with 66 nominees vying for the prizes, from a total of 322 entries.

The second-place prize was €3.000. The other 60 nominees received a € 1,000 third-place prize. Two organizations from Sint Maarten won 2nd place, a testament to the impact local NGOs have on the island, which is gaining more recognition throughout the Kingdom. Especially considering it is the first time the Dutch Caribbean islands were included in the nominations. The Foresee Foundation spearheaded the inclusion of the Dutch Caribbean islands, supporting more recognition and opportunities for NGOs locally and regionally.

As per the jury regarding Perpetual Plastics: 'The plastic washing up on St. Maarten often originates thousands of kilometers away—including from the Netherlands. Perpetual Plastics by EPIC, supported by over 1,000 volunteers, collects and processes this waste. Schoolchildren take home what they have learned, and people with disabilities find a place to contribute. There is hardly a better example of global responsibility: they clean up the mess we create. According to the jury, the organization sends a powerful message that extends far beyond its own coastline.'

As per the jury regarding Freegan Food: ‘On Sint Maarten, the Freegan Food Foundation also saves hundreds of kilograms of food each week that would otherwise go to waste. The organization serves as a food bank, clothing bank, and second-hand shop all in one, but its primary focus is helping families move step-by-step toward self-sufficiency. The jury was moved by the direct nature of this assistance: no waiting lists, no complex rules—just consistent, dedicated effort week after week. Fighting poverty, without the paperwork.’

The United Nations has also declared 2026 the ‘Year of the Volunteer’. This prize recognizes that work by highlighting and celebrating the social impact of volunteer efforts and how they benefit society.

Both organizations would hereby like to congratulate and thank all their volunteers who have dedicated their time and passion to the organizations and its projects over all these years. Volunteerism has always been the backbone of both organizations, and without it, they would not likely have achieved half of what they have today.