A little bit of everything

Here is a quick wrap up of some of today’s key developments on and around St. Maarten, highlighting community events, government initiatives, and more.

• Hotel break-ins under investigation in Little Bay
• CBCS releases new fact sheets on pension and insurance sectors
• Community invited to 26th Annual Thanksgiving Service
• SMART 2026 to expand Green Room for NGOs and sustainability
• Breaking the Chokehold thanks national leaders and expert panel
• Prison management honors Climb Foundation literacy facilitators
• SZV invites public feedback through customer experience survey
• Minister Brug marks first year with VSA appreciation event

Community invited to 26th Annual Thanksgiving Service

The Government of Sint Marten in collaboration with the St. Maarten Christian Council, St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation and the Seventh Day Adventist Church invites the community to the 26th Annual Service with the theme “God is our rock & our shelter” at the New Testament Baptist Church in Philipsburg on Sunday December 7th, 2025.

Thanksgiving on St. Maarten is a call for all residents in the community come together to give God thanks on the first Sunday in December for all his blessings and protection marking the end of the annual Atlantic hurricane season that runs from June 1st – November 30th. Twenty six years ago, following the decision of the then Executive Council on December 1st 1999, the first public Thanksgiving Service was held on December 5th, 1999.

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SMART and Grant Thornton Unfold Plans for Green Room 2026

The St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow (SMART) 2026 will have the largest edition of its "Green Room" concept thus far. This was announced today by main organizer the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) on behalf of the binational organizing committee, which includes the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), the Office du Tourisme (OdT), and the Club du Tourisme (CdT), in conjunction with 2026 Green Room sponsor Grant Thornton.

The Green Room, providing complimentary tradeshow space and tickets to NGOs that contribute to a better balance between the tourism product, nature and culture, serves a double purpose. First and foremost, by having these NGOs present and inform the vast number of local and regional tourism companies visiting the tradeshow about their causes, SMART organizers hope to inspire and provide concrete instruments to make the regional tourism product more sustainable and increase the island-tourism balance. In turn, it introduces the visiting NGOs to a vast array of relevant and potential partners for the future.

SMART is the largest tradeshow of the Northeastern Caribbean. Though the event is organized by the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten / St. Martin in conjunction, the event has a large presence of hotels, tourism boards, and activity providers from surrounding islands. Its 18th edition in the JW Marriott convention center on June 22–26, 2026, aims to be the largest in its 25-year history.

Breaking the Chokehold thanks national leaders and expert panel

The Breaking the Chokehold team extended heartfelt thanks to Minister of VSA Richinel S. J. Brug for believing in the project, supporting the campaign, and underscoring the importance of early intervention, education, and community accountability in tackling domestic violence. They also acknowledged Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescott-Williams, who attended the Simpson Bay screening and offered encouraging remarks, and MP Sjamira Roseburg, who joined one of the community discussions, highlighting the value of national and legislative leadership in addressing gender-based violence.

Deep appreciation was given to the expert panelists whose insights strengthened every session: Ms. Patsy Richardson (St. Maarten Police Force, KPSM), Ms. Ramona Riley (Domestic Violence Advocate), Dr. Nolan Nanthon (Mental Health Professional), Dr. Ann Marlin-Evans (Clinical Trauma Specialist), and Mr. Hubert Pantophlet (Community Representative). The final evening at the University of St. Martin featured an interactive workshop by Ms. Cassandra Richardson, who equipped participants with practical tools, awareness strategies, and a deeper understanding of early intervention in gender-based violence.

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Prison Management expresses gratitude to Climb Foundation

The Management Team of the Point Blanche Correctional Institution and the Miss Lalie Youth Detention Facility recently met with Climb Foundation representatives Dr. Yadira Boston and Dr. Pierre to formally thank them as their long-standing service comes to an end. Prison Director Steven Carty highlighted that literacy is the foundation for confidence, opportunity, employment, and meaningful reintegration, noting that “literacy empowers individuals to take control of their own lives, make informed decisions, and envision a future beyond their past.”

Head of Corrections Henrietta Doran-York praised Dr. Boston’s decades of commitment and the structured, inclusive approach she and Dr. Pierre brought to GED and basic literacy programs, giving even non-GED-ready inmates a chance to grow through patient one-on-one guidance. Climb Foundation presented an overview of their achievements, thanked prison and youth detention staff for strong collaboration, and urged the institution to continue combating stigma around illiteracy and to support both literacy and vocational training. UNODC representative Rafael Baretto Souza commended the depth and impact of their work, and management closed the meeting by wishing the facilitators success and affirming that the seeds they planted “will forever continue to bear fruit.”

SZV invites public feedback through customer experience survey

Social & Health Insurances SZV has launched its annual Customer Experience Survey to better understand client needs and improve service delivery. The anonymous survey, which takes about 8–10 minutes to complete, is available online at www.szv.sx/survey2025

, and is also being conducted by independent research firm Deep Dive Data both in the community and at SZV offices.

“The survey provides SZV clients and the St. Maarten community with the opportunity to share feedback on their interactions. This feedback is essential for SZV to evaluate its processes and identify areas for improvement,” explains Elton Felisie, Deputy Director at SZV. Manager Customer Care, Morenika Arrindell, urges all clients to participate, noting, “Your voice matters in shaping the future of SZV’s services and ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our community.” Clients can find more information on SZV’s website and social media channels or contact SZV by email or phone.

Minister Brug marks first year with VSA appreciation event

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug marked his first year in office with a staff appreciation and reflection event, honoring VSA civil servants, pensioners, and employees celebrating work jubilees. He thanked staff for their dedication, especially during challenging periods and shortages, and gave special recognition to those retiring in 2025 and long-serving employees whose work has strengthened the Ministry.

The program included a presentation of the Ministry’s State of Affairs assessment, its strategic direction, key achievements in 2025, and priorities for 2026 in areas such as social development, elderly care, mental health, labor, and internal capacity building. The event closed with words of appreciation and a toast in honor of staff, retirees, and stakeholders who continue to positively impact the people of St. Maarten.

Hotel break-ins under investigation in Little Bay

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is currently investigating a series of break-ins that took place at a hotel in the Little Bay area on Sunday evening, November 30th, 2025. Just after 7:00 PM, patrol officers were dispatched to the location following a report from hotel security. Upon arrival, officers were informed that a large group of young males had forcibly entered at least seven hotel rooms and stolen several electronic items and other valuables.

CBCS releases new fact sheets on pension and insurance sectors

Willemstad/Philipsburg - The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) announces the publication of its new fact sheets for the pension fund, life insurance, and non-life insurance sectors of the Monetary Union of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. These fact sheets accompany the 2025 Financial Stability Report (FSR), which was released on May 12, 2025.

The fact sheets provide an overview of the state of each sector, describing the structure and recent developments. The fact sheets are supported by our most recent Financial Soundness Indicators (FSIs). FSIs are aggregate statistical indicators that allow countries to assess the health of their financial institutions, such as banks, insurers, and pension funds.

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