CESC Saint-Martin and SER St. Maarten hold first meeting and joint workshop

MARIGOT--The Conseil Économique, Social et Culturel de Saint-Martin (CESC) welcomed, for the first time in the history of both institutions, a delegation from the Socio-Economic Council of Sint Maarten (SER).

The delegation, composed of the Chairman of SER Sint Maarten, Mr. Harlec Doran, board members and SER policy advisor, met with the President of the CESC, Mrs. Ida Zin-Ka-Ieu, and several members of the Council for an introductory exchange aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two advisory bodies of the island.

This initial meeting provided an opportunity to present the missions, mandates, and operating frameworks of both institutions, to compare their respective structures, and to discuss shared socio-economic concerns across the island.

As part of the session, the CESC hosted a dedicated workshop inspired by its CESC en Plein’Air initiative, whose findings were publicly presented during a meeting on November 21st, 2025.

Members of the SER delegation participated actively in exchanges on three key thematic areas identified as priorities on both sides of the island:

• Making a decent living from work
• Solidarity and civil society
• Peace in the world

The contributions gathered during this special workshop will be included in the local report the CESC will publish in January 2026, enriching the collective reflection with binational perspectives.

"This first meeting marks an important step for both our institutions. By sharing our experiences and visions, we are paving the way for lasting cooperation that will benefit our entire island. The challenges we face are common, and it is together that we will be most effective in addressing them.” – Ida ZIN-KA-IEU

"This historic meeting between Social Economic Council (SER) and the CESC Saint-Martin is a crucial first step in formalizing cross-border cooperation. By aligning on shared priorities like workforce stability and civil society solidarity, we have established a robust foundation to jointly tackle common challenges and enhance the socio-economic future of both Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten." – Harlec DORAN

Both institutions expressed their commitment to building a structured and lasting cooperation framework. Discussions included the possibility of holding regular bilateral meetings, sharing expertise, and exploring joint initiatives on topics of common interest to Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten.

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