SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - Animal lovers are invited to come together for a meaningful cause during the annual World Stray Animal Sunset Sail, taking place on Saturday April 4th, 2026, hosted by Aqua Mania Adventures.

The special event raises awareness and vital funds for the organizations working tirelessly to improve the lives of stray and abandoned animals across St. Maarten.

On an island where stray animals remain a visible challenge, a network of dedicated volunteers and foundations works year-round to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for animals in need.

Among them is the St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation, which for decades has been at the forefront of promoting humane treatment of animals. Through education, rescue efforts, and extensive sterilization campaigns, the foundation has helped sponsor more than 15,000 spay and neuter procedures, addressing the root cause of animal overpopulation.

Alongside them, SXM Paws continues to make a difference through its rescue and adoption programs, providing medical care, foster homes, and ultimately loving families for animals that once lived on the streets. With its Adoption Center and network of volunteers, the organization has helped countless animals find a second chance at life.

More recently, the Island Cat Rescue Foundation, established in 2024, has taken on the growing challenge of the island’s stray and feral cat population. Through its Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) program, the organization works to humanely reduce cat populations while rescuing young kittens who can be socialized and placed into foster care until they find permanent homes.

Completing the group of organizations supported by this year’s sail is Animal Defenders, a volunteer-powered network known for responding to animals in distress across the island.

From providing emergency care and shelter to ensuring animals receive proper nutrition and veterinary treatment, the group plays an essential role in addressing urgent welfare cases within the community.

The World Stray Animal Sunset Sail offers the public an opportunity to support these organizations while enjoying an unforgettable evening on the water. The event begins at 3:30 PM with a pre-sail gathering, where guests can meet the foundations, learn more about their work, and contribute through merchandise purchases, raffle tickets, and donations of pet food or supplies.

At 5:15 PM, guests will board Aqua Mania’s sailing catamaran for a 90-minute sunset cruise along St. Maarten’s coastline. The sail includes an open bar, snacks, and spectacular views, all while raising funds that will directly support the island’s ongoing animal rescue and sterilization efforts.

Tickets are $50 and include pre-mixer drinks, snacks, and open bar onboard during the sunset sail.  

Even those who cannot attend the sail can still make a difference. Community members and visitors can support local animal welfare organizations by donating supplies, volunteering time, fostering animals, sponsoring sterilization procedures, or helping escort adopted animals to their new homes when traveling off-island.

Aqua Mania Adventures is proud to host this event once again, bringing the community together to support the organizations working every day to create a safer and more compassionate future for St. Maarten’s animals.

Reserve your spot today:
www.stmaarten-activities.com/tours/world-stray-animal-day

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW), Member of Parliament (MP) Lyndon Lewis is expressing serious concern regarding the manner in which the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs is handling the conclusion of the Government’s District Cleaning 2022–2025 contracts, which are scheduled to expire on March 31, 2026, without a new public tender currently in place.

Recent documentation confirms that contractors performing district cleaning services were formally notified by the Ministry in a letter dated February 24, 2026, that their agreements will conclude on March 31 and that an extension will not be granted.

The correspondence also indicated that a new public tender would be issued “in the near future.” However, as of now, no such tender has been publicly announced, raising serious questions about the continuity of district cleaning services across the country.

MP Lewis questioned the logic and planning behind the Ministry’s decision. “It is difficult to understand the reasoning behind notifying companies that their contracts will not be extended while there is no replacement contractor in place and no tender process completed to ensure continuity of service,” Lewis stated. “District cleaning is not a luxury service—it is a fundamental public health and environmental necessity.”

While the Ministry has taken formal steps to end the existing agreements, the absence of a published tender or confirmed replacement has created uncertainty about what will happen after March 31. MP Lewis warned that this lack of planning could have serious consequences for the country.

“If district cleaning services stop even for a short period, the result will be immediate. Garbage will accumulate, illegal dumping will increase, and our districts could quickly face serious sanitation problems, including infestations of rodents and other pests. This is not a hypothetical scenario—it is the predictable outcome of poor planning,” Lewis stated.

MP Lewis emphasized that responsible governance requires foresight and proper transition planning. According to the Member of Parliament, it would have been far more prudent to extend the current contracts temporarily until a transparent tendering process is completed and new contractors are properly selected and ready to assume the work.

“Ending contracts without a replacement ready demonstrates a troubling lack of vision and strategic planning. The Minister must understand that decisions like these affect the daily living conditions of residents in every district,” Lewis added.

MP Lewis is therefore calling on the Minister of VROMI to urgently clarify the Ministry’s plan to ensure continuous district cleaning services and to explain why a new tender process was not initiated earlier to avoid this potential gap.

“Our communities deserve clean, safe districts. The government must ensure that essential services such as district cleaning are managed responsibly and without disruption,” Lewis concluded.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On March 10, 2026, at the Cole Bay Police Station, on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Minister of Interior and Overseas Territories, on behalf of the French Republic, Maritime agreement/treaty/cooperation was signed.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercilina and The French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naïma Moutchou signed the treaty regarding “Hot Pursuit during Maritime Counter Drug Operations in the Vicinity of Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten.”

Present were the Governor of Sint Maarten Ajamu Baly, Minster of Justice, Natalie Tackling, the French side Prefect (Préfet), Cyrille Le Vély, and President of the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, Louis Mussington, among other dignitaries and invited guest.

Following remarks by French Minister of Overseas Territories Naïma Moutchou, Prime Minister Luc Dr. Mercelina addressed the gathering and reaffirmed the significance of the moment.

“Today we formalize an important agreement between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of France regarding the mutual right of pursuit during maritime counter-drug operations in the waters surrounding Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten,” the Prime Minister stated. “This moment is more than a signing ceremony, it is a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility.”

Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina highlighted the unique nature of the island and the need for close collaboration between both sides.

“Our island is unique in the world, two nations, two systems, two administrations, yet one people living side by side on a single island. That reality brings opportunities, but it also brings responsibilities. When it comes to protecting our borders, safeguarding our communities, and combating transborder crime, cooperation is not optional, it is essential.”

The Prime Minister explained that the agreement strengthens the legal framework that allows authorities to act decisively at sea.

“This treaty equips the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and the French Maritime Authority with the necessary legal instruments to pursue vessels engaged in illegal activities across maritime boundaries when circumstances demand it,” he said.

“In practical terms, criminals who attempt to exploit jurisdictional boundaries will no longer find refuge in the waters between our two territories. Our law enforcement partners will now have enhanced capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute violations of national laws, particularly those related to maritime drug trafficking.”

Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina also noted that drug trafficking has far-reaching consequences for communities.

“Drug trafficking is not simply a maritime issue. It threatens our youth, destabilizes our communities, and undermines the safety and prosperity that our people deserve. By strengthening our maritime cooperation, we strengthen the security of our island.”

He further emphasized that the treaty closes operational gaps that criminals have previously attempted to exploit.

“In essence, today we are closing procedural gaps that criminals once tried to exploit,” he stated.

Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling opened the ceremony by welcoming the dignitaries and guests, and reflecting on the long history of cooperation between the French and Dutch sides of the island. 

She noted that since the signing of the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, two nations have shared one landmass where communities, economies, and cultures have grown together across what is often an invisible border.

The Minister explained that the treaty extends that same spirit of cooperation to the maritime domain, where criminal networks have at times taken advantage of jurisdictional boundaries. She noted that this treaty closes a gap criminals have too often relied upon.

She also recognized the many professionals and institutions who worked behind the scenes to bring this agreement to fruition and expressed her appreciation to the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and French maritime authorities, whose daily cooperation at sea gives real meaning to agreements such as this one."

The French Maritime Authority, Capitaine de fregate Frederic Ollive gave a short speech then handed over to his counterpart to expound on the current situation of the Dutch Coast Guard of Sint Maarten, Kapitein Ing. Randy Paskel.

The French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naïma Moutchou spoke afterwards, then the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honorable Dr. Luc Mercelina, expressed his pride in this day whereby both sides formalized an agreement in a clear and powerful statement of cooperation, trust, and shared responsibility.

The prime minister said that though two nations, two administrations, this reality brings opportunity and as well as responsibility to protect our borders and stop transborder crime.

This allows legal framework, the prime minister said, provide both the Dutch and French side maritime authorities with legal instruments to pursue criminal activities across maritime borders.

Combating criminal activity is not just a drug issue but it also affects our community. So this agreement strengthens our community.

After his speech, there was the signing of agreement documents between the Prime Minister Dr. and French Minister of Overseas Territories, Ms. Naïma Moutchou.

A toast was then occasioned to animate the signing.

The treaty establishes legal cooperation between the two authorities in maritime. Signatories have permission to enter/go after each other’s territorial sea during their patrols to conduct surveillance operations, exchange of operational information related to drug and other forms of trafficking in their jurisdictions.

The region, Sint Maarten/Saint-Martin strategic location, remains a point of transit of narcotics and weapons moving from South America toward North America and Europe requiring constant surveillance and high-speed interception capabilities. 

There are continued maritime counter-drug/illegal activities operations taking place with high-speed chases of Go-fast vessels. The aim is to stop smuggling, particularly of cocaine and marijuana and guns/weapons.

THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) – An introductory meeting earlier this year between Her Excellency the Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita Arrindell and H.E. Dren Doli, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has resulted in a positive cultural and educational opportunity for a student from Sint Maarten.

As a direct outcome of the diplomatic engagement earlier in the year, the Sint Maarten Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) will coordinate along with the cabinet Minister Plenipotentiary to facilitate the participation of a student in the University of Prishtina program, “Learn Together. Experience Prishtina. Build Connections.”

The University of Prishtina 26th edition of the Prishtina International Summer University (PISU) 2026, is an incredible opportunity to enhance a student’s academic potential and broaden their horizons by engaging in 19 diverse courses delivered by renowned international experts. The two-week program runs from July 6 – 17, 2026 in Prishtina.

Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “I am very pleased that our continued diplomatic engagement has resulted in this meaningful scholarship opportunity for a student of Sint Maarten.

“Initiatives such as these demonstrate the real value of international cooperation, opening doors for our young people to gain global exposure, expand their academic horizons, and build lasting cross-cultural connections. It is through partnerships like these that we continue to create pathways for the people and students of Sint Maarten to access opportunities beyond our shores.”

PISU offers more than just academic learning—it’s a chance to be part of an innovative community that values individuals as contributors and co-creators in shaping new meanings and cultural identities.

Whether you are from Kosovo or anywhere around the world, this program is designed to foster academic and cultural exchange, bringing together students and professors from across four continents.

Alongside enriching courses that cover a variety of academic fields, the student will also have the opportunity to enjoy excursions, cultural programs, and extracurricular activities that showcase the beauty of Kosovo and its vibrant culture.

Prior to the establishment of Kosovo as an independent state, the University of Prishtina was initially enacted by the Social Autonomous Province of Kosova on 18 November 1969, which provided a legal status and mandate of the institution as a degree awarding body.

In 2003, during the Balkans post-conflict period, reforms were solicited through a new strategy for higher education policy, which resulted in the adoption of the University Statute in 2004.

Presently, the University of Prishtina comprises fourteen faculties: Faculty of Philosophy; Mathematics and Natural Sciences; Philology; Law; Economics; Civil Engineering and Architecture; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Medicine; Arts; Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine; Sports Sciences; Education; and Architecture.

The minister was invited and attended the 18^th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Kosovo in February which served as a meaningful platform for dialogue and cooperation, reinforcing the importance of sustained diplomatic engagement.

The Government of Sint Maarten views this educational exchange as a valuable step in strengthening international partnerships while creating new opportunities for the nation’s students and professionals.