THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) – Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell attended the 116^th European Union (EU) Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) tripartite meeting in Brussels to discuss a number of programs and funding initiatives that would strengthen OCTs and help establish the Orange Economy and Cultural Heritage that would benefit the diversification of one pillar economies.

Tripartite meetings is platforms where participants focus on programming and implementation of cooperation programmes, current affairs, and other issues of mutual interest. These meetings take place at least four times a year, which ensures continuous, year-round dialogue on issues of shared concern.

“Sint Maarten must fully make use of the opportunities that exist with various EU programs that are beneficial to our country.  OCTs also have several key trade reporting obligations. Our cabinet acts as a key facilitator in this process working with relevant departments within government to encourage timely submission of required information.

“Goods manufactured within OCTs have duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market of more than 500 million people.  Sint Maarten’s share in total EU-OCT trade reportedly is approximately three per cent.  There is a digital platform “Access2Markets” which was created by the European Commission (EC) Directorate General Trade in 2020 to support companies trading with the EU.

“The digital platform includes tools for companies interested in doing business with the EU. The EC organizes three webinars annually and businesses within OCTs are welcome to join where they learn about ways and means to have their products enter the EU market,” Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell pointed out.

Moreover, the EU through OCTA (Overseas, Countries and Territories Association) is providing a training to build capacity within OCTs and increase their ability to participate in EU horizontal programs.  There are already nine participants from Sint Maarten who have registered for a training program which starts this April.

Additionally, during the tripartite meeting, the EU shared their plan to create a new OCT-EU Culture Program that forms part of the EU’s Global Gateway. The program totaling two million Euros in grant funding is expected to be made available for OCTs in the second half of 2025.

OCTs associated with the EU, while not sovereign countries, have wide- ranging autonomy covering areas such as economic affairs, employment markets, public health, home affairs and customs, defense and foreign affairs usually remain within the remit of the Member States.

Member States with which they maintain special links are Denmark, France and the Netherlands.

The OCTs are Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antartic lands, Greenland, New Caledonia, Saba, Saint Barthélemy, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor (VSA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport (MECYS) and the Stichting Expertise Centrum Ervaringsgericht Onderwijs (Stichting EGO), announces the expansion of a comprehensive lifestyle study among primary school students ages 4 to 12 years old in Sint Maarten.

This research which includes a Child Monitor questionnaire aims to collect essential information on children's health and their physical activity habits. The results will be used to develop effective health programs and implement interventions that contribute to a healthier future for the youth of Sint Maarten.

Expansion Following a Successful First Phase

After the successful implementation of the Child Monitor in Sint Maarten's Catholic schools in 2024, the study is now being expanded to the other primary schools on island namely Prins Willem Alexander School, Marie Genevieve de Weever School, Oranje School, Ruby Labega School, Dr. Martin Luther King School, Leonald Conner School, the Christian Hillside Schools, The Methodist Agogic Centre campuses, and The St. Maarten Seventh Day Adventist School. 

This expansion ensures that more children and parents have the opportunity to contribute to this important research, leading to an even more complete picture of the lifestyle and activity patterns of the youth on Sint Maarten. 

Purpose and Approach of the Study

The objective of this study is to provide schools and policymakers with a clearer understanding of the lifestyle habits of children aged 4 to 12 years old.

Combined with the previously conducted BLOC test, which assessed children's physical motor skills, this research offers a comprehensive view of both the physical and general lifestyle of Sint Maarten’s youth.

As part of this research, parents are asked to complete a questionnaire covering various lifestyle topics. These include children's eating and drinking habits, sleep patterns, time spent on screens, transportation to and from school, time spent playing outdoors after school, and participation in sports activities.

Why Is This Study Important?

The collected data from the study will provide Sint Maarten with valuable insights to develop effective health and physical activity programs, create tailored awareness campaigns, support schools in fostering a healthier learning environment, and enable annual monitoring of children's overall development.

Incentive: A Chance to Win an Educational Field Trip!

To encourage participation, a prize will be awarded at each school. The class with the highest response rate to the questionnaire will win an educational field trip to Perpetual Plastics SXM. This unique experience will not only motivate students to participate but also raise awareness about sustainability and recycling.

Collaboration for a Healthier Future

This research project is conducted by Stichting EGO in collaboration with JOGG Netherlands (Healthy Youth, Healthy Future), CPS (Collective Prevention Services), the Department of Sport and the Division Public Education (MECYS). The questionnaire was developed by the Mulier Institute and is based on internationally recognized research methodologies.

This initiative has been made possible through a grant from the Sint Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), further supporting efforts to promote a healthier and more active lifestyle for children on Sint Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The Permanent Committee of Country’s Expenditures (CLU) of Parliament will be meeting on March 17, 2025.  

The Committee meeting, which was adjourned on February 12, 2025, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Discussion with the Minister of Finance on the report from the General Audit Chamber "Audit into the process of Ex Officio Tax Assessments" (IS/728/2022-2023) (IS/1077/2022-2023 dated September 6, 2023)

This meeting was requested by MP S.A. Wescot-Williams

The Minister of Finance will be returning to Parliament to provide answers to the questions posed by Members of Parliament during the meeting of February 12, 2025.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament 

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on March 17, 2025.

The Public meeting is scheduled for Monday at 13.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Prime Minister will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:

Question hour: Questions from MP D.T.J. York directed to the Prime Minister regarding long-term solutions for NV GEBE and relief measures for residents and businesses (IS/680/2024-2025 dated March 10, 2025)

The intention of a question hour is to create the possibility for Members of Parliament to exercise their supervisory activities by posing questions and interacting with Ministers on current

matters. During the question hour, only questions and answers will be given on the topic at hand. The procedure of the question hour is regulated in article 69 and further of the Rule of Order.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. 

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx