~198 Students Take Their First Notes onto the Public Stage~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The National Institute of Arts (NIA) is proud to invite the general public to the official launch of the Leerorkest Sint Maarten, a landmark program bringing orchestral music education into the heart of primary school life on St. Maarten. The debut event will be held at the L.B. Scott Sports Auditorium on Saturday, June 20, and begins at 5:00 pm sharp. Admission is completely free and open to all members of the public.

The event will feature students from three participating primary schools — St. Joseph Primary School, Sr. Regina Primary School, and the Methodist Agogic Center (MAC) at the Reverend John A. Adams Campus — as Groups 5 and 6 perform their very first public musical. For 198 young musicians, this evening marks the beginning of a transformative cultural journey. They will be accompanied by the NIA String Chamber -and Youth Orchestra. A special treat is to be working alongside of international renowned Maestro Juan Cristobal Palacios for this event with assistance of Mr. Neville James and Dennis Amajan and the other Leerorkest teachers, Jose Pacheco, Leroy Vlaun, Roelof Matthew, Gregory Kranenburg, Stephan Apianai and Steven Brown.

A Program Built on Access and Equity
Launched in January 2026 with support from Fonds Cultuurparticipatie (FCP) and Leerorkest NL, the Leerorkest St. Maarten pilot program was created specifically to reach children from families where cultural participation is not a given. Private instrument lessons are often financially out of reach for many families on the island. The Leerorkest removes that barrier entirely: participation is free, takes place during school hours, and is open to every child in the participating classes. The students develop musical skills, collaborative discipline, and a sense of artistic identity within a structured, curriculum-aligned program.

A Long-Term Vision for Culture on St. Maarten
The Leerorkest is not a one-time event. It is a structural investment in an equitable cultural future for all children on St. Maarten — running from January 2026 through June 2027. NIA's broader mission encompasses dance education, arts for social-emotional learning, and after-school cultural programming, all working toward the same goal: ensuring that arts and culture are accessible to every child, regardless of background or financial circumstance.
NIA would like to acknowledge the Republic Bank. 'The Concert' is made possible through the generosity of Republic Bank St. Maarten N.V. as part of its Power to Make a Difference Programme.

ORANJESTAD, ARUBA:--- At the 3rd International Ombudsman Conference in Rome, held from May 26^th to 29th, 2026, Ombudsman institutions, human rights experts, and representatives of public entities from around the world gathered to address how societies are responding to rapid social, technological, and democratic change.

The conference focused on the impact of digitalization and artificial intelligence (AI) on citizens’ daily lives, the protection of fundamental rights, and the safeguarding of accessible, transparent, and people-centered public services.

“The world is changing rapidly, but fundamental rights, human dignity, and accessibility must never come under pressure. That is why international cooperation is more important than ever,” states the Ombudsman of Aruba, Ms. Jurima Bryson, LL.M.

For Aruba, participation in the conference marked a significant international step. The conference provided an opportunity to actively position Aruba within the global Ombudsman network and to build enduring relationships with institutions from Europe, Africa, Asia, and North, Central, and South America.

In addition, relations within the Caribbean & Latin America Region were further strengthened, with a focus on intensifying cooperation, knowledge exchange, and institutional development.

Particular attention was also given to the role of youth in democratic processes, social participation, and the protection of rights.

A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of the Rome Declaration 2026, in which Ombudsman institutions worldwide reaffirmed their commitment to fundamental rights, institutional independence, and people-centered public services in an increasingly digital society. The Ombudsman of Aruba also signed this declaration.

Participation in the International Ombudsman Conference reinforces Aruba’s growing commitment to international cooperation, good governance, and institutional strengthening.

Stay informed about the latest developments

The Bureau of Ombudsman Aruba keeps the community informed through the following communication channels:

• Website: www.ombudsman.aw
• Facebook: Ombudsman Aruba
• Instagram: ombudsmanaruba
• LinkedIn: Ombudsman Aruba

PHILIPSBURG:---  The St. Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), in collaboration with the National Employment Service Center (NESC), will host an upcoming Marine Industry Immersion Day on June 17th, 2026, bringing together government representatives, educational stakeholders, and private sector leaders to create greater awareness and understanding of the marine industry, its economic importance, and the employment opportunities and challenges connected to its future growth.
As one of Sint Maarten’s most important economic sectors, the marine industry contributes significantly to technical services, hospitality, transportation, yachting, tourism and regional commerce. The industry supports a wide range of direct and indirect employment opportunities and plays a major role in positioning Sint Maarten as a leading maritime hub within the Caribbean.
However, continued growth and sustainability of the sector rely heavily on several interconnected factors, including workforce development, infrastructure improvements, permitting processes, policy alignment, education, safety and destination promotion. Challenges in these areas can directly affect the ability of the industry to expand, maintain service quality, attract investment, and create long-term employment opportunities for the people of Sint Maarten.
The Marine Industry Immersion Day aims to provide government officials and labor-related stakeholders with firsthand insight into the scale, diversity, and operational realities of the sector, while encouraging open dialogue on how stronger collaboration can support both industry growth and workforce development.
Through site visits at marine businesses, a tour of the Simpson Bay Lagoon, presentations, panel discussions, and interactive dialogue with marine professionals and businesses, participants will gain a broader understanding of both the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. Discussions will focus not only on employment needs and training opportunities, but also on how operational and regulatory obstacles can impact business growth, investment confidence, and ultimately job creation within the industry.
The event will also highlight the wide variety of careers available within the marine sector, ranging from technical and mechanical trades to hospitality, logistics, administration, operations, and management positions. By creating stronger alignment between industry needs, government support, and educational pathways, SMMTA and NESC hope to contribute to a more prepared and competitive local workforce.
“Sint Maarten’s marine industry offers tremendous opportunities for economic growth and career development, but continued success requires collaboration,” stated representatives of SMMTA. “This Immersion Day is about building better understanding between the industry and government, discussing the challenges affecting long-term sustainability, and working toward practical solutions that can strengthen both the sector and the local labor market.” Stated Jesse Peterson, President of the St. Maarten marine Trades Association.
Peggy-Ann Richardson, Division Head Labor Affairs and Social Services continues: “The collaboration with NESC further emphasizes the importance of proactively preparing Sint Maarten’s workforce for future industry demands through training programs, certifications, internships, and stronger educational support systems, while also addressing the broader factors that influence the overall health and competitiveness of the marine industry.”
Attendees will include representatives from government ministries, labor and education departments, industry stakeholders, marine businesses, and employment-focused organizations, all working toward the shared goal of creating stronger opportunities for the people of Sint Maarten through one of the island’s key economic sectors.
For additional information regarding the Marine Industry Immersion Day, interested parties are encouraged to contact SMMTA or NESC directly.

The Oranje Fonds puts organizations that tackle poverty in the spotlight 

The Oranje Fonds has selected this year’s nominees for the Appeltje van Oranje award. Each year, the Fund presents these awards to three social organizations in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. This year’s theme is ‘Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Together’. The Appeltjes will be presented by Queen Máxima to three winners on Thursday, October 8th. The Caribbean nominees are Trampolin pa Trabao (Aruba) and Mega D Youth Foundation (St Eustatius). The other eight nominees are:

• Stichting Nu De Toekomst - Wageningen 
• Stichting Social Klus - Roosendaal 
• Armoedecoalitie – Utrecht 
• Get a Grip – Humanitas Eindhoven 
• Thuis in West – Krachtgezin Rotterdam 
• Stichting Doors Wide Open – Goor 
• Stek – Buurt en Lukas Den Haag 
• Stichting Spaarkracht (landelijk) 

Ten-day voting period and pitch day 

Fifty organizations were in the running for one of the ten nominations. The public decided on the first nominee during the ten-day online voting period in May. This was Stichting Social Klus, which received 3,400 votes out of over 40,000. The remaining contenders gathered in Curaçao and Groenekan during the pitch days. They presented their projects to each other and to a jury. The jury in Curaçao consisted of Etienne Ys (former politician), Glenn Thodé (board member of the Oranje Fonds), and Pablo Aguirre (staff member of the Oranje Fonds).  

Breaking the cycle of poverty together 

Poverty is a persistent problem in the Caribbean. Its impact is significant, affecting health, opportunities, and the ability to participate in society. One in three people in the Caribbean lives in poverty. Existing poverty policies are often complicated or insufficient, leaving people unable to find the support they need. Social initiatives are therefore essential in reducing and preventing poverty. They are close to the people, have their trust, and offer the support that people need. 

For this edition of the Appeltjes van Oranje awards, the Oranje Fonds is looking for organizations that help break the cycle of poverty and debt in a sustainable way. These are organizations that empower people with knowledge and skills. An important criterion for candidate nomination is that the organizations aim to prevent or reduce poverty. 

The Appeltjes van Oranje 

With the Appeltjes van Oranje, the Oranje Fonds honors three initiatives that are committed to an inclusive and connected society. Initiatives that are unique, creative, and meaningful and have been active for at least two years are eligible. The theme of the Appeltjes changes every year. The prize consists of a bronze statuette designed and created by Princess Beatrix and a cash prize of 25,000 euros. This money can be spent freely within the scope of the winning initiative’s objectives.