SINT EUSTATIUS (ORANJESTAD) - The St. Eustatius Afrikan Burial Ground Alliance kicks off the family heritage project “Remember Statia: Tracing Our Origins” on Tuesday evening March 26 at 7 pm in the public library on St. Eustatius.

It is a public event where people can walk in, ask questions about the project and watch the documentary “A Story of Bones”.

After this introduction meeting, on April 2, 3, and 4, the Center for Family History from the Netherlands will give three workshops on relevant archival sources and how to search in the archives.

On April 10 and 17, educator and writer Marvin Hokstam who has long worked in St. Maarten as a journalist, will host two workshops on how to craft a personal story with the information found about our ancestors.

A maximum of 35 people can join the program, whether on location in St. Eustatius or online.

Researching and reinterpreting marginalized histories

Marvin Hokstam who did a similar program with the Surinamese community: “The Black community has a wealth of untold stories. Beyond enslavement, marginalization and hardship, our history is full of great stories, of heroism, of love, of entrepreneurship. 

Black people have a pre- and post-slavery history as well with stories that live on in the oral tradition of families but have been conveniently ignored by Eurocentric historiography.

Many Black people are unaware of the wealth of rich material in archives waiting to be uncovered and turned into engaging ancestor stories.”

Retaking our history, rewriting our narrative

Getting the names of our ancestors from archival sources and making them known is important to change the narrative. Our ancestors were not just enslaved, they were people with a name, a face, a profession, a story.

They came from different countries of the continent of Afrika, they had knowledge, values, and traditions. They survived the crimes and horrors of the Middle Passage; our ancestors virtually live in us.

There was also a large free Black community in St. Eustatius that we know little about. We have to get ancestors out of oblivion, where they were at best extras in the history of the colonizers, while it was them who actually built the Americas.

“Participants do not necessarily have to research their whole family tree going back centuries," Cuvalay explains. “You can write your story about someone who has been very inspirational to you, for example.”

The Alliance is very much looking forward to the results of the project, and it trusts the stories will capture the heart and soul of the strong-willed Statia people, with heroic whaler captains, highly skilled tailors, carpenters, midwives, artists, musicians, healers, teachers, and what have you.

The Alliance is preparing a special tribute to Statia’s very own Congo man, Mr. Eric Henriquez, who passed away in November 2023.”

About the project

The Dutch Slavery Memorial Year's Mondriaan Culture Fund Open Call partially funds the project. It is still possible to register for the project. If you have roots in St. Eustatius and are from the Afrikan (diaspora) community, you are welcome to join via https://bit.ly/statia-ancestors. All stories collected will be published.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – Lee from Michigan U.S.A. described Cabana Bar & Restaurant located at Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm Resort near the Simpson Bay Bridge in his Tripadvisor review as ‘outstanding.’ 

“If you visit St. Maarten, I would highly recommend stopping by the Cabana Beach Bar and Restaurant in the Hilton Royal Palms on Simpson Bay. 

“The food was beyond good. Everyone in my family ordered something different and all of the entrees were visual pleasing and the taste was beyond good. Everything tasted fresh and was delivered to the table hot. 

“The view from the restaurant looking out over Simpson Bay was also spectacular. 

“Don’t let the fact that this restaurant is in a hotel make you think the food cannot be good because this place definitely disproves that fact. Please give them a try you will be pleasantly surprised.” 

Make sure to check out Cabana Bar & Restaurant which offers American, Caribbean and Barbeque dishes. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY-AIRPORT) - Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE) initiative is to strengthen its workforce and gear up for the imminent reopening of operations and is set to participate in the National Job Fair in the RAI Amsterdam in the Netherlands on March 22 and 23. 

Job seekers are encouraged to seize this golden opportunity to connect with PJIAE's Human Resources staff. The event aims to facilitate direct interactions between potential candidates and the airport's representatives, allowing applicants to showcase their skills and qualifications to the team. 

Actively Recruiting 

PJIAE has currently over 15 open positions. Available positions cover a diverse range, including Legal Officer, Electricians, Mechanics, Mechanical Engineers, Civil Engineers, IT Specialists, Air Traffic Controller Trainees, and numerous other vacancies and Internships. This is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in aviation, actively working on a dynamic career and being part of the Airport Community in St Maarten.  

As the airport gears up for the opening of the renovated terminal by the Summer of 2024, PJIAE proudly boasts state-of-the-art equipment and technology. The management of PJIAE is enthusiastic about reestablishing the airport terminal once again as the most beautiful airport in the eastern Caribbean, emphasizing a commitment to excellence in safe aviation services. 

Committed to Hiring Local Talent 

Over the past few months, PJIAE has been on an employment drive, whereby over 50 local talents in various positions have been hired. The airport is dedicated to investing in local talent, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the community's economic growth.  

PJIAE welcomes individuals with a passion for aviation and a desire to contribute to the airport's success. So, tell a friend to tell a friend to visit PJIAE at the Nationale Carriere beurs in the Amsterdam RAI - Booth number 217! 

PJIAE looks forward to meeting the best talent and is excited to build a team to elevate the airport to new heights. 

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - In honour of World Stray Animals Day, Aqua Mania Adventures will host a Sunset Sail aimed at connecting animal lovers and raising funds for local animal welfare organisations on St. Maarten. The event will take place on Saturday, March 30^th.

World Stray Animals Day is recognized on April 4^th, a date chosen in 2010 during the Dutch National Stray Animal Conference. The significance date of April 4^th was selected because it is exactly six months from World Animal Day.

Aqua Mania Adventures has teamed up with the Animal Welfare Foundation, SXM Paws, and Animal Defenders to generate awareness about St. Maarten’s strays, and more specifically fixing, adopting and fostering stray animals. The pinnacle of this effort will be the World Stray Animal Day Sunset Sail on Saturday March 30^th.

Proceeds from ticket sales, along with profits from t-shirt sales at the pre-sail gathering, and contributions of dog and cat food brought by attendees, will greatly benefit the island’s abandoned animals.

The funds collected will be distributed among the aforementioned animal welfare organizations on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, all of which rely heavily on private donations and volunteer support to aid stray animals. The genuine plight of these animals that are abandoned daily around St Maarten and left to fend for themselves, is truly pitiful. The Foundations are alone in their struggle to combat the ever-growing tide of reproducing strays.

Among these organizations is The St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the humane treatment of animals. Central to their mission is humane education, which has been a priority since 1992. Since that year the Animal Welfare Foundation had provided humane education materials for every primary schoolchild on the Dutch side of the island. They also host awareness activities and public service information.

All Foundations on St Maarten encourage residents to sterilize their animals to prevent reproduction. These organizations have sponsored over thousands of sterilizations for strays and pets, especially for residents of limited means.

Animal Defenders operate through a network of volunteers and supporters who work to provide medical care, food, shelter and advocacy for animals in need. They also engage in education to promote responsible pet ownership and raise awareness about animal welfare issues on the island. They manage several feeding stations around Dutch St. Maarten, with dedicated volunteers replenishing food multiple times a day.

SXM Paws is also a non-profit organization dedicated to the animals of St Maarten. This organization focuses on various aspects of animal welfare, including rescue, rehabilitation and adoption off-island to carry out its mission of improving the lives of animals on St. Maarten.

Michele Korteweg, one of the organizers, highlighted the importance of supporting animal welfare initiatives given the vast number of stray animals on the island and the challenges associated with spaying and neutering. Helping out daily can be as simple as:

• Calling Animal Welfare and reporting strays and animal abuse and neglect.
• Volunteering with one of the Organisations. Even as a visitor you can visit the SXM Paws Shelter and walk the dogs or spend time with them.
• Call SXM Paws if you are travelling off island and can accompany a puppy to its new home.
• Donate money, food, towels, pet supplies and leftover medications to the Organisations as often as you can.
• Pick up injured animals and take them to the vet.
• Keep food and water in your car and stop to feed animals in need.
• Encourage spaying and neutering and sponsor someone who cannot afford to fix their pet.

This will be the second annual sunset sail dedicated to benefit the wellbeing of animals on St Maarten. Aqua Mania has a history of dedicating their memorable sunset sails to good causes. Over the past 8 years Aqua Mania Adventures has organised a very successful Pink Sunset Sail in support of breast cancer, to take place this year on October 5, 2024.

Prior to the sail, participants will have the opportunity to engage at a pre-sail gathering starting at 3.30pm. Here, the participating foundations will host informational booths and sell their merchandise. Attendees can interact with animals, enjoy refreshments, snacks and donate towards pet food.

The Sunset Sail will commence at 5:15 pm, offering participants a 90- minute coastal sail with an open bar, snacks, breathtaking scenery, and the satisfaction of supporting the animals on the island. Adults pay $50 per person, Children aged 5 – 12 can join for $25, and those under 4 can attend for free.

Participants are encouraged to bring bags of pet food to donate or contribute financially towards much needed supplies, during the event.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support – book your spot now, buy tickets for a friend or family member, or even a colleague and help the stray and abandoned animals of St Maarten https://www.stmaarten-activities.com/tours/world-stray-animal-day

Please Support and enlist the aid of these Organisations to help St Maarten’s Animals:
Animal Welfare              P: +1 721-520-8887                 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
SXM Paws                        P:  +1 721-520-8398                 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Animal Defenders         P: +1 721-553-3116                  E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.