SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – Minister Plenipotentiary, Rene Violenus, and his cabinet have reached out both to the Council of Ministers and the Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) regarding one of their economic outreach activities that has the potential of contributing to the labor market issue on Sint Maarten, namely “De Nationale Carrièrebeurs.”

The Minister Plenipotentiary personally initiated constructive discussions with the Dutch company Memory Group, the main company for the National Career Fair that promotes “Working in the Caribbean.”

The main goal is to mobilize the diaspora of Sint Maarten in the Netherlands so that talented persons return and contribute to the national development of their country.

On Thursday, November 30, at 10:00 a.m., a live presentation for organizations and companies is scheduled at the Government Administration Building, room 1 + 2.

The information will be about the on- and offline talent acquisition and the process of creating profiles to be matched with an employer will be provided. There will also be feedback from employees from last year talking about their experience(s).

In addition, the Prime Minister/Minister of General Affairs, Silveria Jacobs, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Omar Ottley, and the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Arthur Lambriex, have been invited to join the information sessions underlining the mutual interest in making this initiative a success.

Interested to join Thursday, November 30 information session, you can send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As part of the promotion, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Memory Group, Geert Nab, and the Chief Operations Officer (COO) Mylene Van Puffelen, are currently conducting a tour within the Caribbean.

On November 2, the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Ardwell Irion and the Minister of Justice, Anna Richardson were briefed on the significance of the Career Fair and were introduced to the CEO and COO of the company Memory Group.

The company, which has organized more than 50 career fairs in the Netherlands, has recently received the “Corporate Live Wire Innovation in Recruitment Services” Award 2023 which event was held on August 30, 2023, in London.

As a result, they will receive even more international recognition for their innovative recruitment services that will benefit employers and training institutes from Sint Maarten in 2024 and beyond, this according to Memory Group.

“De Nationale Carrièrebeurs” is the largest career event in the Netherlands, with different career sections of which “Working in the Caribbean” is one of them.

Various employers of Sint Maarten already committed themselves which includes the Port Sint Maarten Group, the Council of Advice, the General Pension Fund (APS), and the Public Prosecutors Office.

Over 15,000 visitors are expected at the Fair, which is scheduled for March 22 and 23, 2024 in the Amsterdam RAI, the Netherlands.

For more information: www.carierebeurs.nl

SINT MAARTEN/LONDON, UK - In a blaze of excitement and unwavering solidarity, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB) proudly declares its resounding support for Cheryl Dangleben-York, setting the stage ablaze as she took center spotlight and emerged victorious at the prestigious Face of Women of Hearts Awards (WOHA) event in London on November 17.

May-Ling Chun, the Director of Tourism for St. Maarten, stated, "In endorsing Cheryl Dangleben-York's vibrant representation of St. Maarten at the Face of WOHA in London, we are not just supporting an individual; we are championing the spirit of diversity, equality, and inclusion on a global stage. Her success resonates as a powerful beacon, embodying the values our destination proudly upholds. STB joyfully rallies behind Dangleben-York, as her presence in London propels our ongoing mission to spotlight St. Maarten's commitment to positive change."

The Face of WOHA, in its fourth glorious year, radiates with professionals from diverse backgrounds, creating a symphony of voices and messages on a global stage. Dangleben-York, a dazzling finalist, stood tall among 20 extraordinary women committed to sparking positive change worldwide.

Dangleben-York's triumph in London not only marks a personal victory but also unlocks a golden opportunity for St. Maarten to shine on the global stage, showcasing positive values that beckon travelers seeking destinations deeply engaged in social and cultural initiatives.

As the curtain falls on the Face of WOHA Speaking Extravaganza, STB joyfully applauds Cheryl Dangleben-York for her victory on November 17. Her achievement echoes the resilience, strength, and excellence that define St. Maarten's spirit.

In her own jubilant words, Dangleben-York expresses heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support pouring in from her family, colleagues, friends, Toastmasters Family, and generous contributors. She acknowledges the gravity of representing St. Maarten amidst the grandeur of London and appreciates the unwavering support that carried her through moments of challenge.

STB extends heartfelt congratulations to Cheryl Dangleben-York, illuminating her path with wishes for continued success in her endeavors.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The heartbeat of NV GEBE's operations is fueled through the bloodline of the company's hardworking, resilient, and dedicated employees. With consideration that NV GEBE's employees have continually served the community through several crises including, Hurricane Irma, the COVID-19 pandemic and the ransomware attack, management recognized the importance of providing emotional and customer service support.

Over the past two weeks several members of NV GEBE's management and frontline teams participated in a "Legendary Customer Service" Retreat. The Retreat was comprised of a series of workshops focused on self-development and social skills. Unlike the standard customer service trainings, the workshops delved deeper into staff's knowledge, skills and behaviors through emotional intelligence. 

"This wasn't a normal customer service training," expressed staff. "It was truly an extraordinary experience and the best one yet! People and the media are always beating down on us and not realizing that we are human. We sacrifice and go through a lot to provide services, sometimes under dire circumstances. This helps me to understand myself, my colleagues and the customers better. We are grateful for this time spent and looking forward to more." 

These sentiments were further substantiated by the positive results from the post-training evaluation surveys which were conducted by participants. 

The workshops were organized by Jacqueline Louis of IMBRACE Group and passionately facilitated by Wendy Carrington, whose empathetic expertise garnered heartfelt and tear-jerking moments of truth. Carrington shared the following: "As the facilitator of the "Legendary Customer Service" program I must conclude that NV GEBE's Retreat was a resounding success. At the start employees seemed a little reluctant to participate because they felt that they had completed several training programs before and felt this was just another run of the mill program. Once we got going the employees demonstrated a hunger to learn more about themselves, how their past life experiences impacts their present behaviors and were extremely open to learning and growing more. The program focused on Emotional Intelligence and emphasized the importance of effective communication, empathy, active listening, creating 'moments of magic' and all the competencies associated with emotional intelligence; which are crucial in creating a positive, productive and supportive customer experience. I am confident that as a we continue to roll out more programs,  customers can look forward to improved customer satisfaction, a positive attitude and magical moments from NV GEBE's employees. The employees who participated are now equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to handle customer inquiries and challenges with enhanced communication, empathy, professionalism, efficiency and expertise."

Participants were presented with certificates, further solidifying their refreshed proficiency and dedication to providing "Legendary Customer Service" experiences at NV GEBE. 

"NV GEBE's employees are our most valuable asset, which forms the bloodline of our operations. Therefore, it is essential that we equip them with the care, support and tools to better serve our customers. The Retreat was a fundamental stepping stone for several community and customer-centric initiatives that we will be announcing in the coming days," said Troy Washington, Temporary Manager, NV GEBE.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - This weekend, 41 youth sailors from five different countries gathered to compete in the 18th annual St. Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship. Sailors from the Antigua Yacht Club, St. Kitts and Nevis Sailing Association, Saint Martin Voile pour tous, Saint Martin MDA, Saint Barth Yacht Club and the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, battled for the win, during two exciting race days.

“It is great to see international teams coming to the Sint Maarten Yacht Club to join the Optimist Championship. In 2022, 26 kids joined the race showcasing the Championship's growth. We hope to continue this next year with teams from even more countries.” Said Dolein van de Loo, event organizer at the Sint Maarten Yacht Club.

The Optimist Championship Kicked off with a ceremony on Friday November 24, for a team presentation, dinner, and the opening of the event. A special moment was dedicated to Carrick Jones for his remarkable achievement of sailing from Antigua to St. Maarten in an Optimist, arriving on Thursday, November 23^rd, 11 PM.

On Saturday November 25 the first race day unfolded with 41 competitors racing in 3 different fleets: The Sailqube fleet for the youngest but enthusiastic racers, the orange fleet for intermediate and the blue fleet for the most advanced racers. 

The newest fleet of the championship, the Sailqube fleet, featured 9 young sailors. The competitors sailed 3 races on the first day and another 3 on day 2. The fight for the win was tight but after 2 days, Axel Vanden Eynde came in third place representing the Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Samuel Ricour, from Saint Martin Voile pour tous came in second and Axel le Calvex from the same club won the fleet with 10 points out of 6 races.

In the orange fleet 18 intermediate sailors raced against each other. Ruben van Hest representing Antigua Yacht Club took first place with 12 points out of 11 races. In this fleet the fight was about second and third place. After day one Mia Duce was second and Lluc Agusti was third, both from Antigua Yacht Club. But after race day two this changed and Lluc took over the second place which made Mia come in third position.

In the Blue fleet 14 experienced sailors competed for the win. The podium was dominated by French sailors from Saint Barths. The fight for second and third place was tight and took place between Tao Carmona and Lourenco Rolo Couto Jorge both from St Barth Yacht Club. Tao Carmona claimed second place after 2 days of racing and Lourenco Jorge claimed third. It was Thomas Magras, from the Saint Barths Yacht Club that dominated the event with a total of 13 points out of 11 races sailed. This result named him the overall winner of the 18^th St. Maarten Optimist Championship. 

Special awards for Sportsmanship and Newcomer were also rewarded. The Race Organization rewarded Elliot Balland from the Saint Barths Yacht Club, as Best Newcomer. Balland joined the Saint Barths Yacht Club Racing Team only a few weeks ago and became 11^th in the Orange Fleet. Congratulations! It was his first race off island.

Carrack Jones was rewarded with the Sportsmanship award. Even though he sailed 100 nm in his Optimist from Antigua to Sint Maarten, he participated in the full regatta. His journey took him over 30 hours, and he added another 10 hours of sailing on top, during the weekend by participating. This is true sportsmanship. Jones finished 6^th in the blue fleet. 

Another special mention was there for Nathan Sheppard, from the Sint Maarten Yacht Club. The Sint Maarten Optimist Championship rewards the best sailor of Sint Maarten with the title ‘Sint Maarten National Dinghy Champion in the Optimist’. Sheppard finished 5^th in the Blue Fleet, a great result. 

The SMYC would like to thank the protest committee; Steven Kern available online, Iain Mobbs and Nettie Valk.

With prizes from Budget Marine, Dinghy Dock Bar, Shipwreck Shop and the dessert Spot all the winners received an additional prize besides the trophies.

The organizers would like to thank all the volunteers for helping on and off the water, Budget Marine for their sponsorship, and partners Domino's and Zeebest for providing breakfast, lunch, and snacks. SMYC would also express their appreciation for all participating teams making the18th St. Maarten Budget Marine Optimist Championship a great experience.