SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - University of St. Martin (USM) President, Dr. Antonio Carmona Báez, visited two leading universities of applied sciences in The Netherlands during the last week of September, furthering USM's longstanding relationships with Dutch higher education institutions. This visit is part of USM’s mission to expand academic opportunities for its students and foster new partnerships for collaboration.

On 23 September, Dr. Carmona Báez visited Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Deventer, where he held productive meetings with Saxion’s President of the Management Team, the Officer of International Affairs, and Dean of the School of Finance and International Business Sander Reinderink. Discussions centred on the possibility of joint degree programs between the two institutions, including innovative 2+2 or 1+2+1 formulas. These programs would allow USM students to complete part of their Bachelor’s degree in Sint Maarten before spending time at Saxion and returning home for a last year before graduation. This is a new strategy developed for Small Island higher education institutions that wish to combat drain brain. Keeping the students in contact with a community of faculty and peers back home throughout their entire undergraduate journey can help combat the risks of losing educated Sint Maarteners to job markets abroad.

Saxion University is renowned for its high success rate among Caribbean students and has established partnerships with several institutions in the region, including the University of Curaçao and the University of Aruba. Notably, Saxion offers double degree programs with international partners, including institutions in Vietnam, a model that could greatly benefit students from Sint Maarten.

“This partnership presents an incredible opportunity for our students to receive personalised attention in a supportive environment, while also accessing the resources and networks of a well-established European university,” said Dr. Carmona Báez. “Expanding these options will help us continue to offer world-class education to our students right here in Sint Maarten.”

Continuing his visit on 25 September, Dr. Carmona Báez met with the Executive Leadership of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). As The Netherlands’ largest tertiary institution and a popular destination for Caribbean students, THUAS offers a diverse range of academic programs, including the unique Bachelor’s in Kingdom Affairs, which covers topics of special relevance to the Dutch Caribbean.

During his meeting with THUAS’ Vice President Arend Hardoff, International Officer Sabine Amft and the Dean of the School of Public Management, Law, Peace and Safety Willem Nieuwenkerk, discussions focused on drafting a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two universities. The previous MOU, signed in 2019, led to USM and its degree programmes being recognised by other institutions of higher education, and this new agreement is expected to build on that success. Joint programs, research collaborations, and 2+2 degree options were key items on the agenda.

“Collaborating with THUAS enhances the educational and professional prospects for our students,” said Dr. Carmona Báez. “We are committed to providing our students with broader opportunities for academic excellence, not just in Sint Maarten but across the Kingdom.”

In addition to these partnership discussions, Dr. Carmona Báez also held talks with research authorities and Kingdom partners to explore the establishment of climate impact analysis initiatives. These discussions are part of USM’s broader efforts to contribute to critical global issues and ensure that its students are equipped with the tools to make a meaningful impact in their future careers.

The University of St. Martin remains dedicated to forging partnerships that enhance the academic experience and professional opportunities for its students and graduates, ensuring that they are well-prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.

The University of St. Martin is the sole institution of higher education serving the people of St. Martin and neighbouring islands, offering Associate and Bachelor degree programs designed to equip students with the skills needed to succeed in today’s global environment. With a focus on excellence in education and community service, USM is committed to building a brighter future for the people of Sint Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The new school year has started and parents of children who benefited from the Healthy School Meal Program which started during the tenure of current Member of Parliament the Honourable Omar E.C. Ottley while he was Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), are now asking why Government is refusing to continue the program.

MP Ottley, has received questions, comments and complaints from parents. As a result of this he is raising serious concerns about the government's apparent lack of action in -re-implementing the Nutri Kids healthy breakfast program. “This is a project aimed at providing nutritious meals to vulnerable students across several public schools in Sint Maarten,” stated MP Ottley in a press release issued today, Monday September 30,2024.

MP Ottley is now asking whether the government intends to abandon another vital social initiative designed to uplift the island's most at-risk youth.

The Nutri Kids program, approved by Ottley on October 19th, was set to launch as a three-month pilot on November 13th, with the goal of offering a "Grab & Go" healthy breakfast to students at three elementary schools—Martin Luther King, Genevieve de Weever, and Leonard Connor. The initiative initially aimed to benefit approximately 160 students, ensuring that children from vulnerable backgrounds would start their day with a nutritious meal, enhancing their physical well-being and ability to concentrate and perform in school.

"While we would like to see more done across the board, I feel honoured to have been part of such a program that provides breakfast to vulnerable kids and assists with providing a start to a healthy lifestyle," Ottley remarked when the program was first approved. The program was also intended to instil healthy habits, with Ambrosia, a local culinary service provider, leading the charge in designing balanced, nutrient-rich meals. In collaboration with the Collective Prevention Services (CPS), the project also included educational workshops for parents, students, and school staff on the importance of nutrition and healthy eating habits.

Yet, despite the benefit to children the program has not been restarted, leaving Ottley and many in the community wondering why. Ottley asks if the current government is deliberately neglecting the Nutri Kids program. "There seems to be a trend emerging," Ottley warned, "whereby the government is failing to continue key social development programs initiated before their tenure, regardless of the clear benefits to the community." He noted that cancelling or delaying such programs, particularly those that target the most vulnerable groups in society, has far-reaching consequences for Sint Maarten's future.

The Nutri Kids program is the latest in a series of initiatives started by previous administrations that have been left in limbo. The program's goal was to create long-term healthy habits for students and provide them with the nutritional foundation needed for academic and personal growth. By the end of the pilot, CPS was expected to evaluate its effectiveness and advise on expanding the initiative to other public schools.

"We cannot afford to ignore our most vulnerable children," Ottley stressed. "Providing a healthy breakfast is not just about food; it's about ensuring every child can succeed academically and socially. The Nutri Kids program was created with this in mind, and it's disappointing to see it being neglected."

"The principal responsibility of government is to ensure the welfare of its people, especially the most vulnerable," Ottley said. "If a program works, it should be continued—regardless of which administration started it."

"It's not about politics," Ottley continued, "it's about people. These are programs that can change lives, improve health outcomes, and set a positive course for the future. Why would anyone want to stop that?"

With the school year already started, further delays could mean that many children will miss out on the critical benefits of a nutritious breakfast. "This is not just about feeding children," Ottley concluded. "It's about feeding their potential, their ability to learn, grow, and succeed."

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) launched a joint initiative to raise awareness about dementia and address the stigma that surrounds the condition in the region of the Americas, PAHO stated.

September has been observed as World Alzheimer’s Month, and it’s the 13^th anniversary since its inception that ADI has been promoting.

Dementia is not part of the normal aging process, and there are ways to reduce the risk of developing dementia. Dementia is a term for several diseases that affect memory, thinking, and the ability to perform daily activities.

Although age is the strongest known risk factor for dementia, it is not an inevitable consequence of biological ageing.

PAHO says studies show that people can reduce their risk of cognitive decline and dementia by being physically active, not smoking, avoiding harmful use of alcohol, controlling their weight, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

PAHO adds that additional risk factors include depression, social isolation, low educational attainment, cognitive inactivity and air pollution.

PAHO says Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders affect an estimated 10.3 million people in the Americas and are among the leading causes of death in individuals aged 60 and older.

“Regrettably, persons living with these conditions are often subject to stigma and discrimination, and with the number of people living with dementia set to almost triple by 2050, now is the time to promote a better understanding of this condition,” PAHO points out.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department in the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (Ministry VSA) calls on the community to inform itself about dementia by visiting the following link ‘Time to Act on Dementia’: https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/time-to-act-on-dementia

After visiting the link, scroll down the page to download the ‘Campaign Toolkit.’

The toolkit has a wealth of information and messages designed for four target groups including carers and people living with dementia, healthcare practitioners, and the general public.

SINT MAARTEN/CURACAO - The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) will introduce a revised foreign exchange regulation on October 1, 2024. The revised regulation will reduce the administrative burden of the licensing process and speed up the granting of foreign exchange licenses.

‘The CBCS has calculated that the reforms will reduce the number of foreign exchange licenses to be granted on an annual basis by about 50% without compromising an effective control of the foreign exchange reserves,’ stated executive director, Dr. José Jardim.

The foreign exchange regulation is a practical elaboration of the Foreign Exchange Transactions Regulation for Curaçao and Sint Maarten (Regeling Deviezenverkeer Curaçao en Sint Maarten), including instructions for foreign exchange banks regarding foreign exchange transactions, an overview of capital transactions that require a license, publications of general licenses and exemptions, and regulations and guidelines for the reporting of foreign exchange transactions by the foreign exchange banks to the CBCS.

The main reforms are:

• increase of the transaction limit from which a foreign exchange license is required from NAf.150,000 to NAf.500,000;
• elimination of the foreign exchange license for exceeding an annual limit of NAf.250,000 for transfers to an own foreign bank account by natural persons (replaced by a license requirement for transfers of NAf 500,000 or more);
• elimination of the foreign exchange license for NAf-loans extended by foreign exchange banks to non-residents;
• elimination of the foreign exchange license for exceeding a balance of NAf.250,000 on nonresident NAf-accounts with foreign exchange banks (replaced by a license requirement for transfers abroad of NAf 500,000 or more); and
• a general foreign exchange license to residents to provide guarantees and securities to nonresident creditors (for eventual payments abroad resulting from these guarantees and securities, a foreign exchange license is required for transaction amounts of NAf.500,000 or more).

As of October 1, 2024, all applications for a foreign exchange license must be sent to the CBCS through the intermediation of a foreign exchange bank.

This will guarantee adequate assistance of customers with transactions that require a foreign exchange license, safeguard the integrity of foreign exchange transactions, and facilitate the introduction of an online application for foreign exchange license requests.

As part of the reforms, foreign exchange banks will soon be able to submit foreign exchange license requests through the reporting web portal of the CBCS. Until then, the current foreign exchange license request forms can be downloaded from the CBCS website.

The Foreign Exchange Regulation 2024 can be downloaded from the CBCS website through https://www.centralbank.cw/legislation-guidelines/foreign-exchange-regulations.