SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Soul Beach Music Festival is coming back to St. Maarten, where it began in the Caribbean as the Sinbad Soul Music Festival in 1995.

The popular music festival held usually during the US Memorial Day weekend, thereafter became an annual feature of Aruba’s tourism offerings for almost a quarter of a century.

“We are most excited to welcome the Soul Beach Music Festival back to St. Maarten,” announced Grisha Heyliger-Marten, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.

“Those who remember its beginning here as the Sinbad Soul Music Festival will recall the buzz and impact it had in attracting especially African-American tourists to our island. I am therefore very pleased that it is returning to its roots more than a generation later.”

The Soul Beach Music Festival has become a perennial music festival for African-American tourism in the Caribbean region.

Mark Adkins, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Soul Beach Festival Productions Inc., producers of the music festival, was elated about the return of the event to St. Maarten.

“First, I have to say that I feel truly blessed to have been a part of producing something that I loved for so many years,” he stated in an invited comment. “When my brother, Sinbad, was determined to film a 70’s Soul Music special for HBO in 1995, I just never knew it would lead me to find my passion for producing festivals. I can’t believe that 2025 will mark 30 years exactly since first being bit by this ‘Festival Production’ bug,” he said.

“Now, if you add the Divine intervention of returning to our roots, St Maarten, where it all began, then you know something special is in the soup,” Adkins continued.

“From going to our first meeting and seeing the familiar and welcoming faces of Regina Labega and Bernadette Davis who pushed and worked to make the first festival a reality, then coupled with the impact of first-time introductions to honorable Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten and Hon Vice President Valérie Damaseau, this was really meant to be,” said Adkins.

According to Adkins, the two officials “were both so impressive with their understanding of the event and their pride for St. Maarten, (that) I truly felt back home.”

He noted that at one point, “Minister Heyliger-Marten looked over at us very directly (and) stated, ‘I know how important this event is.’ That confidence in our team really let me know it would be back in St. Maarten.”

“Now, a few months later, we just launched the website and immediately people are booking, excited. The posts, emails, calls all confirm that they are all ready to come home to the Soul Beach Music Festival on St. Maarten,” Adkins said.

With a top-notch professional team of logistics and production crew, boasting an enviable track record of putting on safe and well-organized events that have attracted A-list artistes, the festival has built up a following of loyal tourists and continues to attract thousands of first-time visitors to the host destinations.

According to its summary of activities, the 2024 Soul Beach Music Festival in Aruba added more than US$20 million to that island’s economy during the festival week alone. It also brought in over 7,000 visitors who stayed more than an average of 7 nights on the island, with the highest average expenditure per trip of any group travel.

The festival impacted the increase of African-American tourism year-round from 1% to 11% of all US travel to Aruba.

The plans for the 2025 edition of the festival are aimed at “highlighting St. Maarten/St. Martin’s unique experiences by presenting festival-goers with shared interest events such as fine dining / chef promotions, wellness offerings, celebrity golf outings and cultural tours.”

“Now that we have brought the Soul Beach Music Festival back home, we will do everything we can to ensure its success here for the next several generations,” said Minister Heyliger-Marten. She added that, “Coming on the heels of our annual carnival celebrations, this will further extend the tourist season and possibly even have a spin-off effect on Carnival itself.”

The expectations are that the music festival will attract over 4,000 stay-over visitors to the island, which will result in an immediate return on investment for the island’s economy, apart from the high added value of advertising and marketing of the St. Maarten brand.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - Sint Maarten Yacht Club is proud to announce the successful completion of the Swim 2 Sail Program, with all 28 participants achieving success. The Swim 2 Sail Program, part of the Sint Maarten Yacht Club Primary School Program, included students from three schools: ACE Foundation, Leonard Connor and Seventh Day Adventist. Each school had up to 12 students participating in weekly sailing lessons during school hours, free of charge.

The Swim 2 Sail Program started at the beginning of the sailing season in September. It is designed to empower children who are not yet confident in the water or unable to swim. By earning their Swim 2 Sail certificates, these young learners are now ready to explore the world of sailing with confidence. With these certificates, the young students are taking a big step in their journey to becoming skilled sailors.

The Primary School Program introduces children to sailing in an exciting and enjoyable way. Beyond the fun, it helps build confidence, foster teamwork, and teach essential water safety and sailing skills. These valuable skills will not only ensure their safety on the water but also prepare them for future adventures. Whether for leisure or to inspire future careers in the maritime industry, these experiences are invaluable.

Each school celebrated the students' achievements with small end-of-year ceremonies. Parents, teachers, and instructors attended to support the young sailors. The students received their certificates along with red sailing shirts personalized with their school names on the back. These shirts are especially useful on the water, as they provide sun protection for the children.

“What an incredible transformation we’ve seen over the past few months with all the kids! Some of them started the program feeling anxious about the water and look at them now! I’m so proud of their progress and excited to continue developing their sailing skills in the coming months,” said Elja van der Horst, sailing instructor for the Primary School Program.

This program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Thank you to Gustavia Yacht Club, the Department of Sports, Independent Consulting Engineers, and Lagoon Marina for sponsoring the program. We also extend our thanks to T-Maxx T-Shirts and Bob Hilbert for providing the shirts and their custom printing.

The Sint Maarten Yacht Club looks forward to a continued and successful sailing season, with the newly certified young sailors enjoying the waters in their distinctive red shirts, proudly representing their schools.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Kadaster and Land Registry Office proudly celebrated the exceptional contributions of two of its longest-serving staff members, Marie de Weever and Austin Philips, whose combined service spans an impressive 80 years.

De Weever, with 55 years of service, and Philips, with 25 years, were honored during a heartfelt staff appreciation evening at Simpson Bay Resort.

Recently appointed Kadaster Director, Benjamin Ortega, highlighted the importance of recognizing these milestones, which not only mark personal achievements but also symbolize Kadaster’s commitment to community and excellence.

Reflecting on his personal connections with both honorees, De Weever, affectionately called "Tante Marie," and Philips, a childhood friend Ortega expressed his pride in celebrating their dedication.

At the center of the evening was De Weever, affectionately regarded as “Mama” by her colleagues. Beginning her journey with Kadaster in 1965, she has been a cornerstone of the organization, mentoring generations of staff and shaping its legacy. “Miss Marie is more than a staff member; she’s the root of Kadaster,” said Mr. Ortega. “Her dedication, wisdom, and drive to give back even after retirement are immeasurable.

Kadaster simply could not function without her insight and expertise.” Though officially retired, De Weever remains deeply involved with Kadaster, advising on the Hypotheekbewaarders function and serving on the committee for the preservation of heritage documents.

Austin Philips, with 25 years of dedicated service, has also left a lasting mark on Kadaster. Starting his career in surveying, he has risen to the role of Front Office Manager and registered mortgage custodian (Hypotheekbewaarder). His journey reflects Kadaster’s focus on fostering talent and providing opportunities for growth.

"There's still so much growth ahead," said Mr. Philips. "Kadaster has given me the platform to learn, evolve, and embrace new challenges. It’s a place where opportunity meets passion."

During the evening, Ortega highlighted Kadaster’s forward-thinking vision, including plans for drone mapping technology, which will further enhance the organization’s capabilities.

“This organization is more than a workplace; it’s a community,” Ortega said. “Kadaster’s strength lies in its people, and tonight we celebrate not only their contributions but also the inspiring legacy they leave for others.”

L to R: Benjamin Ortega, Marie de Weever and Austin Philips

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Honourable Member of Parliament and leader of the United People's Party Member of Parliament (MP) Omar E.C. Ottley has expressed grave concern over what he says is "a copy-paste" of a previous Budget that the Mercelina 2 Cabinet has presented to Parliament as its Budget 2025 for St. Maarten.

In a passionate critique of the 2025 budget, MP Ottley expressed deep dissatisfaction with what he described as a lack of creativity, vision, and foresight. MP Ottley raised critical concerns over the absence of new revenue-generating measures and the repetition of strategies from the 2024 budget, which appears to have been copied and resubmitted to Parliament. In a press release on Thursday, he said that the "copy-paste budget of the Mercelina 2 Cabinet fails to meet the pressing needs of St. Maarten's people."

"Even the explanatory notes in the 2025 budget admit that measures from 2024 were carried over into 2025 without significant updates or improvements," Ottley stated during the recent budget meeting. "This shows a glaring lack of initiative and a failure to address the financial struggles faced by our citizens."

Ottley pointed out that much of the progress seen in the country stems from initiatives introduced under the previous administration, including the Health Levy and Tourist Tax, the Pension and Minimum Wage increases, developments at the airport, advancements in the General Hospital, and improvements to local marketplaces and Carnival booths.

He emphasized that these achievements represent years of groundwork and capital expenditure efforts by the former government. "After over a decade of stagnation, the previous administration finally secured capital expenditures to fund these essential projects," Ottley noted. "This administration is quick to blame its predecessors for challenges while taking credit for these accomplishments."

The MP also raised alarm over the current administration's decision to allocate NAF 75.6 million in capital expenditures for GEBE generators, which he believes is stifling critical infrastructure projects. Ottley revealed that the Cay Bay Phase One Project, Middle Region Phase Two Project, housing developments, and a much-needed high school project have all been sidelined due to this funding allocation.

"By prioritizing GEBE generators and not letting GEBE pay for its own mistakes, the government has effectively turned its back on key initiatives that directly impact the lives of our people," Ottley asserted. "The needs of our communities are being ignored, and the consequences are becoming painfully evident."

MP Ottley urged the Mercelina Cabinet to adopt a more innovative and forward-thinking approach to governance. He criticized the lack of bold, new policies to generate revenue and stimulate economic growth, warning that relying on increased taxes will only burden an already cash-strapped population.

"Our people deserve better than recycled measures," Ottley declared. "We need a budget that addresses the urgent needs of today while building a sustainable future for St. Maarten." In his closing remarks, MP Ottley called on the government to reevaluate its budget priorities and place the well-being of the people of St. Maarten at the forefront of decision-making. He emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and leadership that truly understands and responds to the struggles of everyday citizens.

"The role of government is to serve its people, not to recycle outdated measures or misallocate resources, to lay claim to bringing a budget to Parliament earlier than previous governments. The people of St. Maarten would rather you take the time needed to provide a sensible budget than for you to lay claim to being earlier," Ottley said.

"We need a government willing to roll up its sleeves, tackle challenges head-on, and create a brighter future for all." MP Ottley said he will continue to hold the government accountable and advocate for the people's best interest, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their needs are prioritized in the country's governance.