PHILIPSBURG:---  A handful of local fishermen on Sint Maarten are starting the new year in 2026 with new boat equipment and fishing gear. The non-profit Nature Foundation Sint Maarten is pleased to announce that four fishermen recently completed a workshop series designed to support efforts towards sustainable local fishing. As thanks for their time and commitment, each graduate received a one-time purchase order for equipment or services of their choice.

The compensation program began in August 2025 with a welcome dinner, followed by three workshops, gear training, and ongoing collaboration throughout the year. Developed jointly by the Nature Foundation and local fishers, the sessions focused on practical tools and knowledge exchange. Topics included sustainable fishing practices, responsible use of Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs), and creating a cultural archive of Sint Maarten’s fishing heritage. A special emphasis was placed on the importance of sharks and rays to the marine ecosystem, and ways to help prevent negative interactions with them. Regional fisheries experts from Anguilla and Statia also joined the workshop as guest speakers.

“Marine conservation and fisheries are often pitted against one another, but you can’t have one without the other. Healthy oceans support fish stocks and fishers’ livelihoods, and their knowledge and involvement are essential to caring for our marine resources,” said Nadya de Wolf, Marine Policy and Outreach Fellow. “We’re grateful to the fishers who allowed us to show our support and respect for the fishing community and have been working with us. This program is just a first step, and we hope it opens new doors.”

After completing the program, participants could request up to USD 1,500 in pre-approved equipment. Items included fishfinders, marine machinery, and wire rolls for fish pots. Each fisherman also received a custom 3D-printed gauge to measure legal and recommended sizes for queen conch and Caribbean spiny lobster to help ensure sustainable harvests.

The Nature Foundation is planning a second round of workshops and funding opportunities in 2026. Small bonuses will reward innovative practices, such as adding “escape slots” to fish traps. Recruitment will again take place through flyers, word-of-mouth, and visits to the Simpson Bay Fish Market and Great Bay harbor. Interested individuals should reach out to the Project Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send a WhatsApp message to +1 (721) 581-6365 to determine their eligibility.

The initiative is part of the MENAA (Marine Elasmobranch Nursery Area Advocacy) project at the Nature Foundation. MENAA seeks to form a foundation for the success of Sint Maarten’s marine and coastal area, particularly for sharks and rays. Research shows local waters serve as a nursery for species like tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and spotted eagle rays. These animals are crucial for reef health and fishery stability but remain threatened by poaching and ghost nets, despite local protections.

MENAA is funded by BESTLIFE2030 (Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas), a granting mechanism focusing on preserving and restoring biodiversity in the EU’s outermost regions (ORs) and Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), which host rich biodiversity but also face significant climate change threats.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a landmark move for banking reform and consumer protection, Parliament today unanimously adopted a motion by MP Francisco A. Lacroes to overhaul the basic payment account framework. This decisive vote follows through on an initiative first tabled during the 2025–2026 parliamentary year and signals a new era of financial inclusion for Sint Maarten.
From Advocacy to Action On October 30, 2025, MP Lacroes introduced the motion after intense debate with the responsible minister, highlighting the urgent need to modernize outdated deposit caps that no longer reflect real-life financial needs. The proposal underscored a shared commitment: the basic payment account must be more than a token gesture; it must work for workers, families, and small businesses. At the time, MP Lacroes framed the initiative as part of his broader campaign for fairness in the banking sector, calling out restrictive thresholds that penalized low and middle-income earners. “Financial inclusion isn’t optional, it’s a right,” Lacroes stated in public remarks last year.
Today’s vote is a clear mandate with unanimous support. Parliament has now instructed the government and regulators to raise the deposit limit and revamp the implementation guidelines. This is not just a technical adjustment; it is a game-changer for thousands of residents who rely on basic accounts for salaries, bill payments, and savings.
The official voting record will be published shortly, but today’s outcome already sends a clear message: affordability and access to banking services are now recognized as core policy priorities.
What’s next, the government must now act. Regulators are tasked with consulting the banking sector, drafting new regulations, and reporting back to Parliament on timelines and any necessary legislative adjustments. Once implemented, the changes will allow account holders to manage their finances without running into unrealistic caps, reducing fees, and strengthening the financial resilience of households and small businesses. Bigger picture: This victory aligns with MP Lacroes’ 2025 agenda on economic fairness, which has also addressed cost-of-living pressures, the energy transition, and budget policy. Today’s motion is more than a banking reform; it is a clear statement that Sint Maarten is serious about protecting consumers and strengthening its economy.

SINT MAARTEN:---  Fourteen social organizations from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten have commenced the second year of the ‘Strengthening Families Together’ program with renewed focus and shared commitment. During a two-day regional conference on Sint Maarten in November 2025, participants engaged in keynote sessions, technical workshops, and field visits to enhance organizational capacity and strengthen their collective contribution to improving the well-being of families living in vulnerable circumstances.

For Strengthening Families Together, Netherlands-based funders ‘Kinderpostzegels’ and ‘Oranje Fonds’, in collaboration with local advisors, selected 14 organizations committed to promoting equal opportunities for children and young people, supporting parents and caregivers in vulnerable situations, and addressing the urgent issue of poverty across the islands. Alongside project implementation, participants take part in inter-island learning activities and receive tailored capacity-building support from three local capacity-strengtheners. The annual gathering provides a structured moment for reflection, peer exchange and joint development.

Frontline experience is a superpower

In the opening speech of the conference, Suzette Moses-Burton emphasized the power of frontline experience. Organizations working directly with families gain access to insights that are often absent from formal systems, and these observations play a vital role in identifying gaps, risks and opportunities. Moses-Burton, chief of staff of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports, highlighted five considerations for strengthening organizational effectiveness: clarity about one’s role within complex social issues; deliberate team and leadership development; working both with the system and on the system; recognition of families as partners; and the importance of maintaining motivation and joy in the work. These principles frame the programs broader objective of reinforcing organizational resilience and strategic capacity.

Breaking the silence

A second keynote by Carla Vlaun, managing director of Tackling Law, highlighted the silences that must be broken to create lasting change for the people the organizations work with, and to influence policy. These silences touch on themes such as sexual health, mental resilience, financial shame, documentation, and the cultural norms that shape gender-based violence. The keynote sparked a shared realization that true impact often begins with daring to ask difficult questions, giving participants rich material to reflect on together through the lens of their own frontline experiences.

Sharing stories and building on impact

In the photo exhibition Sharing Stories, participants shared powerful portraits and stories of people who, despite vulnerable circumstances, feel seen and can show their resilience when given access to the opportunities these organizations provide. Through careful attention to consent and dignity, the personal stories on display made the organization’s impact tangible. Workshops further enabled participants to articulate their outputs, outcomes, and intended impact, and to reflect on internal and external factors that shape resilience within people and communities.

Inspirational site visits

During the conference, participants gained a better understanding of the work of three Sint Maarten-based organizations engaged in the program:

• 721 Kids Foundation hosted the group for a site visit, showing them the limited space in which they provide care and after-school support to children, including those with special needs, with unlimited flexibility and passion, as well as hosted a buddy activity whereby collaboration was key;

• Kids at Sea, creating access to maritime training and skills development for young people, taught the group through a hands-on communication exercise how essential clear communication is, both at sea and in daily life.

• At Freegan Food Foundation, participants joined a cooking workshop and dinner, met volunteers, and sorted clothing and toys for families affected by the hurricane in Jamaica together.

Starting year 2 with renewed focus

In the coming year, capacity-strengtheners on each island will continue to offer tailored support to participating organizations. An accompanying study will assess the effectiveness of both the organizations’ interventions and the program as a whole.

The group will reconvene in November 2026 on Curaçao for the next regional meeting. By then, participating organizations are expected to have further advanced their internal capacity, strengthened their local networks, and contributed more robustly to the shared objective: Strengthening Families Together.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Public meeting on January 9, 2026.

The Public meeting was adjourned on January 8, 2026, and will be reconvened today at 13.30 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Deliberations on the issues surrounding the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
a. The recent nomination of the Chairman of the CBCS by the Council of Ministers
b. An update on the ENNIA situation
c. Developments concerning Mullet Bay (IS/092/2025-2026 dated September 22, 2025)

This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran, MP A.M.R. Irion, MP D.T.J. York, MP O.E.C. Ottley and MP F.A. Lacroes.

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