SINT MAARTEN (MULLET BAY) - Marlon George from Antigua, focused and consistent was able among a field of 60 players, to win the title of Tournament Champion during the 29^th annual St. Maarten Open Golf Tournament.

Marlon George ended on top on the first day, of the two-day tournament, with a score of 78 gross and on the second day scored a respectable 80 gross, resulting in a 158 Low Gross score taking the Champion title.

The prize for Tournament Overall Low Net was won by Sam Bashir with a total Low Net score of 133 beating the runner up by three strokes.

During the two-day 36 holes tournament that took place over the weekend at the Mullet Bay Golf Course, players from both St. Maarten and St. Martin, joined by a large group of golfers from Anguilla, Curacao, Antigua, St. Kitt’s and Nevis and other neighboring islands as well as from Canada, USA, Great Britain and Germany, got underway on Saturday morning for their first round.

The St. Maarten Golf Association SMGA was able to organize this top ranked tournament due to the great partnership with Mullet Bay Resort & Golf Course, and the relentless efforts from its board members, volunteers as well as the tremendous support it received from both the local and international business community. Proceeds from the event will benefit pre-selected community charities and Youth Sports involvements.

The tournament was played under challenging course conditions with a good breeze and sunny weather. Despite the heat, two players performed the unthinkable, Joanna Ambron and Christopher Gibbons both, on hole 17, made a hole in one!! A remarkable feat.

In the Champions category, the prize of 1^st Low Gross was won by Marlon George from Antigua with a score of 158, 1^st Low Net was won by Kit Lee from Sint Maarten with a score of 142.

2^nd Low Gross was won by Fred Boureau from St. Martin with a score of 164.2^nd Low Net was won by Christopher Gibbons from the USA with a score of 145.

In the category Men’s 1^st flight for players with a handicap between 10 and 15, Jeffrey Alberga from Curacao came out on top with a score of 167 Low Gross, Andy Homes playing for St. Maarten took first Low Net with a score of 140. In the Men’s 2^nd Flight for players with a handicap between 16 and 30, first Low Gross was won by Arun Jagtiani from St. Maarten with a score of 187, first Low Net went to Jacob Streefkerk from St. Maarten with a score of 142.

In a strong field with a total amount of 8 female players that joined the tournament this year, the prize for Low Gross in the Ladies category went to Elodie Royere from St. Martin with a score of 180. Low Net was won by Joanne Ambron from the United States of America with a score of 145.

Elvis Bowrin from St. Kitt's&Nevis shot 154 to win Low Gross in the category Seniors for players over 50 years old, while Sam Bashir took 1^st Low Net with a score of 133.

This year again there were a large number of players participating in the category Super Seniors for golfers over 60 years old. Therefore, this category was split up for players with a handicap lower than 24 and a category with handicaps from 24 to 30. In the ‘Super Senior’s 1^st Flight’ Marlon Loncke from St. Kitt's & Nevis won Low Gross with a score of 162 and Low Net was won by Tony Lake from St. Maarten with a score of 138. The category ‘Super Seniors 2^nd Flight’ was won by Keith Graham from Sint Maarten with a score of 188 Low Gross, Stef Rumeser from St. Maarten won Low Net in this category with a score of 140.

The SMGA is a non-profit organization of avid golfers that promotes the practice of the game of golf and to foster community sense. The SMGA organizes golf matches and tournaments for its members and non-members and donates proceeds that are made through tournaments, and during these events like the St. Maarten Open, to multiple community organizations on the island.

Sam Bashir (center) the winner of the overall net this year, with Hervé Thibaudeau, left (winner last year) and Keith Graham (St. Maarten Golf Association President) on the right.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – “In these times of global uncertainty, it is important that we address our community on how evolving international trade policies, especially renewed U.S. tariff measures could affect our economic situation food availability and future growth plans,” Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Hon. Grisha Heyliger Marten said in a press statement.

“Despite potential disruptions in essential goods flow from our key trading partner (U.S) because of the new tariffs we must not succumb to fear but instead focus on the opportunity to adjust to the new reality of what is basically the reversal of globalization, and improve our economic foundations.

“Our trade network extends beyond U.S. imports through connections with Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This diversified trade profile give us the ability to pivot toward alternative markets, unlock new supply channels, and foster innovation within our local industries.

“Now more than ever, we must expand and strengthen these relationships, while turning our focus inward to boost local production, reduce dependency, and protect our economy,” Minister of TEATT Heyliger Marten added.

“I fully support the urgent call made by Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the recent CARICOM summit: ‘Some of the things we import are offensive to an independent CARICOM. We must change our mindset… buy local, eat local, and support regional production.’

“This is precisely why I will be moving forward with establishing an Agriculture , Livestock & Fisheries Agency (ALF) — a permanent body to support local farmers, encourage backyard and community farming, and create real, sustainable food systems and standards.

“With this Agency and the ongoing efforts of the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Association – DCALFA to enhance regional trade between the CAS & BES Islands and others nearby, the TIME is truly now.

As I’ve said before: “We cannot speak of true independence or sustainability while we depend entirely on others for what we eat. Agriculture is not just an option — it’s a necessity for our future.”

“Additionally, I express my full support for the recent proposals for the establishment of a National Task Force to proactively assess and respond to the ripple effects of U.S. policy changes,” Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger Marten said.

“The task force however must include our local distribution companies, and shipping companies, as we have already been in discussions with them. Their insights and expertise are critical to ensuring that our strategies are grounded in the realities of our supply chains. The establishment of this task force is critical,” MP Wescot-Williams recently stated. “It will serve as a strategic body to analyze and prepare for the ripple effects of U.S. policy shifts, particularly as they affect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like St. Maarten.”

“Complementing the formation of this task force, we must also tackle the complexities of our business environment. From licensing to banking and taxation, every administrative aspect requires modernization to create a more vibrant economic climate. We understand that tariffs could trigger inflation through elevated costs of imported goods which in turn reduces disposable income for families and businesses.

“Addressing this challenge will require pursuing flexible fiscal measures, however, there must be balance with potential fall in revenues. In this regards, discussions with the Central Bank is important to coordinate monetary policy and manage liquidity expectations to preserve financial stability and create conditions that allow citizens and businesses to maintain more disposable income.

“Modernizing our business environment remains a central component of our strategic plan. We are actively establishing an extensive reform plan to make doing business easy on the island by starting with addressing licensing challenges.

“Our goals are clear; reduce processing times, increase business registrations, and improve investor sentiment. However, to truly achieve a comprehensive simplified business environment would require banking and tax administration adjustments.

“Alongside these efforts, the creation of an Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) is on our agenda. The IPA will play a key role in streamlining regulatory procedures to attract new investments and reduce operational burdens for local entrepreneurs.

“The proposed task force would cover: • Monitoring U.S. policy developments, • Strengthening communication within the Kingdom, • Enhancing regional and international cooperation, • Building resilience strategies across sectors, and • Educating the public on global events that may affect our future.

“This is a timely and necessary move, and I will consider actively supporting the formation and implementation of this task force alongside Parliament. It aligns perfectly with our broader vision of resilience, readiness, and long-term sustainability.

“To the people of Sint Maarten: let us unite, innovate, and build an economy prepared to adapt to global shifts, ensuring every citizen and business enjoys enhanced financial resilience. Together, we will protect our economy, nourish our people, and secure a bright and sustainable future for Sint Maarten,” the Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger Marten concludes.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Strong communities need strong partnerships. Yet, too often, nonprofits and law enforcement operate in silos, focusing on the same challenges from different angles. That’s about to be addressed. On April 8, NPOwer Academy will host the workshop “Community Police and Non-Profits Connecting,” a session designed to strengthen collaboration between Community Police Officers (CPOs) and grassroots organizations. Led by veteran CPO John Boyrard and his CPO colleagues, the session will explore practical ways to build lasting partnerships, ensuring a more unified and effective approach to community challenges.

This two-hour workshop, which starts at 6:30 pm at NPOwer’s office, is part of NPOwer Academy’s expanded training series, an initiative of the Foresee Foundation (4C), designed to equip nonprofit leaders with the skills, strategies, and networks they need to operate efficiently, secure funding, and maximize impact.

The era of nonprofits relying on just passion alone is over—funders now expect organizations to be structured, data-driven, and sustainable. In 2025, NPOwer Academy is introducing a more strategic, needs-based approach to its workshops, ensuring that nonprofit organizations gain practical tools that can be immediately applied to strengthen their operations. This shift reflects a growing trend among funders, who are increasingly integrating capacity-building into their grants. They recognize that financial support alone is not enough—nonprofits need strong internal structures and leadership to thrive.

The workshops, financed by St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) are structured to address both core knowledge areas and specialized themes tied to funder priorities. Sessions will cover essential topics such as governance, human resources, finance, budgeting, reporting, data collection, digital literacy, communication strategies, stakeholder engagement, and social responsibility.

Since the start of the year, NPOwer Academy has seen strong participation in its training sessions, reflecting the nonprofit sector’s eagerness to grow and improve. The most recent workshop, held on April 1, “Better Teamwork and More Impact with Insights Discovery,” focused on strengthening teamwork and communication within organizations. Facilitated, thanks to the endorsement by SOAB- the Learning Lab, by Kirsten Heukels, an experienced Insights Practitioner and Founder of 1 for 2 Social Innovation, the session provided nonprofit leaders with practical tools to better understand team dynamics, improve collaboration, and maximize impact. Participants explored how different personalities shape workplace interactions, learned simple techniques to engage more effectively with colleagues and stakeholders, and applied practical strategies to enhance teamwork and problem-solving within their organizations.

NPOwer remains committed to providing St. Maarten’s nonprofits with training that strengthens both their knowledge and real-world operational capacity, ensuring long-term impact. Local organizations are encouraged to monitor their registered email accounts and follow NPOwer on social media for updates on future training opportunities.

For more details or to register for upcoming workshops, contact NPOwer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call +1 721 581 5050, or visit www.npowersxm.com. NPOwer is St. Maarten’s nonprofit support platform, dedicated to capacity-building, networking, and resource-sharing.  

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Roddy Heyliger) - The mega announcement of mega tariffs around the world took place in the Rose Garden on Wednesday, April 2 at the White House in Washington DC.

Trump’s tariffs have created economic anxiety and its already leading to a decline in U.S. consumer confidence which is impacting how Americans are spending their money. There has been a decline in spending on airlines, hotels and other trip components.

Sint Maarten received over 332,000 stay-over visitors in 2024 and close to a million cruise passengers, more than a majority from the US market. Regional and local tourism reps will be watching the figures closely for 2025, but a strategy is needed to counteract the potential decline that we are facing as a nation.

In February, according to data from Bloomberg Second Measure, U.S. consumer spending on air travel and hotels dropped by 10 and six per cent year over year. In addition, from the same source, every week in 2025 through March 24, Americans have spent less on airfares and hotels compared to the same period in 2024.

The Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) this week released its March 2025 Economic Bulletin which said that Sint Maarten has demonstrated resilience by recording a stronger recovery from the pandemic than initially anticipated by maintaining steady economic growth throughout 2024, and this momentum is expected to continue into 2025.

Sint Maarten’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was described as ‘moderating slightly to 3.5 percent in 2024, and CBCS projects that real GDP for 2025 is expected to expand by 2.6 per cent.

CBCS warns that “…trade policies by the U.S. administration could result in negative spillover effects for both the global economy and the monetary union (Curacao and Sint Maarten).” CBCS further adds that, “This scenario may disrupt supply chains and cause sharp increases in international commodity prices, further fueling inflationary pressures in Curaçao and Sint Maarten.”

CBCS: “To reduce risks from tariffs and potential trade conflicts, businesses in Curaçao and Sint Maarten should diversify supply chains away from reliance on the U.S. market. The governments of Curaçao and Sint Maarten can support this by strengthening trade relations with alternative partners through, for example, collaborative advocacy with CARICOM.”

According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. exports to the country in 2023 was valued at US$847 million. This is what local import businesses, wholesalers and others forked out. The time has come to diversify our supply chains and our reliance on the U.S. market as suggested by the CBCS.

CBCS adds that, “…promoting local production in agriculture,…” is one of the avenues that should be explored and developed. The Government of Sint Maarten Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunications (TEATT) is pursuing this avenue.

With the tariff war now in full swing, small island nations like Sint Maarten and others in the Caribbean will be planning a response while others may already have been planning ahead once Tariff Trump was sworn in 10+ weeks ago.

The tariff war is a wake-up call for Sint Maarten’s tourism dependent economy and sole reliance on the U.S. market for goods and products. The country’s economic diversification is more essential now than ever.

Roddy Heyliger