PHILIPSBURG:--- The Positive Foundation and the Elektralyets Foundation proudly close another powerful Breast Cancer Awareness Month under the theme “Love the Tatas, Check ’Em!”

Throughout October, the community came together in solidarity, support, and celebration of survivorship and early detection. From the Play for the Cure Softball Tournament and the vibrant Pink Parade to the serene Pink Sunset Sail and symbolic Princess Walk at PJIA Airport, every event reflected the island’s strength and unity in the fight against breast cancer.

A special thanksgiving service at the Colebay Methodist Church gave the community a moment to reflect, give thanks to survivors and honor those who have lost their battles. The service, filled with prayers, testimonies and uplifting songs, brought together participants, survivors, families, and supporters for a powerful moment of unity.

The Foundations proudly hosted various vital educational workshops in collaboration with the MBC Travelers from the United States. The workshop featured key presentations: “Know Your Lemons”, an informative and interactive breast health session early detection, an informational lecture by Dr. McKensie, Breast Medical Oncologist from Natera, highlighting the importance of early detection and testing and “Empower Yourself, Empower Others” by Yolanda-Jackson Martina, a breast cancer survivor, who shared her powerful journey of resilience and empowerment.

As part of the ongoing commitment to women’s health, a special Women’s Health Day was also held at the St. Maarten Medical Center, offering a range of free health services. Participants received clinical breast exams, mammogram vouchers for uninsured individuals, as well as blood pressure, blood sugar, and HIV screenings. The event successfully served over 150 participants, reinforcing the Foundations’ dedication to promoting early detection, awareness, and accessible healthcare for all.

In partnership with multiple medical clinics across the island, from Philipsburg to Dutch Quarter to Maho and Colebay, the Breast Cancer Screening Program 2025 made early detection more accessible than ever, offering free clinical breast examinations, mammograms vouchers for uninsured individuals who may need a mammogram.

The foundations facilitated presentations by survivors to corporate organizations, educational institutions, and faith-based groups to raise awareness and promote education. These presentations offered powerful firsthand perspectives that inspired our community to act early, increasing the availability of diverse treatment options.

Representatives of the Positive and Elektralyets Foundations, Shelly Alphonso and Mercedes van der Waals Wyatt, extend heartfelt gratitude to all volunteers, healthcare professionals, partners, sponsors, and participants who made this month a grand success.

Donations and funds raised throughout the month will continue to fuel the Foundation’s unwavering mission to educate and empower. These contributions directly support impactful initiatives such as billboards campaigns, dynamic social media outreach, public service announcements, free mammograms for uninsured individuals and distribution of educational materials. Through innovative and engaging efforts, the foundations aim to reach not only the local community but also inspire awareness and action far beyond our shores.

“Every event, every conversation, every small step makes an enormous impact,” added Shelly Alphonso. “Our community continues to show up with love, courage, and purpose. Every walk, every screening, every conversation helps save lives.”

“Our community’s spirit is our greatest strength,” said Mercedes Van der Waals Wyatt. “It is this sense of unity and determination that makes all the difference in raising awareness and saving lives.”

As the month concludes, the foundations remind everyone that breast health is a year-round commitment. Women — and men — are encouraged to perform monthly self-checks, schedule annual mammograms in consultation with their doctor, and continue to share the message that early detection saves lives.

The Positive Foundation and Elektralyets Foundation remain committed to empowering the community through education, support, and advocacy — ensuring that the message of hope and early detection continues far beyond October.

Together, we are stronger. Together, we save lives.

For more information, follow the Positive Foundation and Elektralyets Foundation on social media or contact
Shelly Alphonso – +1-721-580-9658 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Mercedes van der Waals Wyatt – +1-721-523-7418 | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Miami, Florida:---  Liberty Caribbean, operators of Flow Jamaica and Liberty Business is committed to playing its part to ensure that Jamaica recovers quickly from inevitable damage following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

As a trusted ally to the government and people of Jamaica, Flow Jamaica will utilize spectrum approved via the Spectrum Management Authority and the Ministry of Energy, Transport, and Telecommunications to collaborate with Starlink Direct to Cell to provide emergency connectivity for Liberty Caribbean customers in the likely eventuality that its terrestrial networks are severely affected.

‘We truly understand having the ability to communicate in the aftermath of the Hurricane is a matter of life and death. Our FLOW Essential service will provide basic connectivity immediately’ says Inge Smidts CEO Liberty Caribbean. This innovation will provide emergency mobile connectivity via satellite and facilitates SMS and text communications to areas affected by the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

This partnership, the first of its kind in Jamaica, sees a traditional telecommunications operator collaborating with a satellite communications provider to deliver connectivity seamlessly direct to mobile customers to send text and essential messaging to their family and friends when local mobile network infrastructure is unavailable. “We believe our collaboration with Starlink and their Direct to Cell business reflects a deep commitment to the Caribbean and to protecting Jamaicans, the economy, and our shared future,’ Smidts added.

By implementing this redundancy into its island-wide mobile network, Liberty Caribbean together with Starlink will ensure that emergency services, businesses and families can remain connected.

PHILIPSBURG:---  For the third time, the Law Enforcement Council (Council) conducted a review into the state of affairs regarding the follow-up of its five outstanding recommendations on the Crime Fund. The Council concludes that the management of the Crime Fund continues to show concerning deficiencies. This applies both to the implementation of applicable legislation and to the prioritization of improving the identified bottlenecks. In six years, insufficient progress has been made, and the five recommendations remain unimplemented.

One consequence is that projects that contribute to combating crime – and, by extension, the safety of citizens – are not forthcoming. The Council fails to understand the ongoing delays and the lack of follow-up on recommendations to ensure the preconditions for sound management of the Crime Fund. The conclusion in 2025 is quite evident: the Minister of Justice has consistently failed to follow up on the Council's recommendations.

Overarching picture

Law enforcement and the administration of justice are among the core tasks of government, protecting the safety of individual citizens and society. Where the government imposes rules on citizens and enforces them, the government itself must also comply with the rules it imposes through legislation. According to the Council, it is unacceptable that the minister has systematically failed to comply with the applicable rules (including the preparation of an annual policy plan) for many years and has given insufficient priority and guidance to ending invalid practices as quickly as possible.

Years of unnecessary delays

Over the years, various parties have sounded the alarm, but this has still not led to the necessary results. The agreements made by the country in the context of the Country Package have also not resulted in the essential attention and expediency. The Council reaffirms that a conscious choice must be made to only use the Crime Fund for the purpose for which it is intended and that the framework for this must also be established without delay.

Prioritization and recommendation

It is time for action. Prioritization is urgently needed to bring all aspects of the fund's management into order. Based on its third follow-up inspection, the Council therefore reiterates the need for immediate attention and prioritization of the fund. In view of the current findings on the crime prevention fund, the Council urgently recommends that the Minister of Justice follow up on the five recommendations and make the necessary resources available as soon as possible.

The full inspection report and all other publications of the Council are available digitally on the Council’s website: www.raadrh.com.

 “Money Matters, Empowering Our Community, One Financial Decision at a Time”

PHILIPSBURG:--  This November, the Ministry of Finance will once again celebrate Financial Literacy Month (FLM) an initiative dedicated to empowering citizens with the knowledge and tools to make informed financial decisions and build a more secure future.

Under the theme “Money Matters,” this year’s program features a full month of activities designed to reach every corner of the community, from students and working adults to seniors, through interactive learning experiences.

Throughout November, a series of free public information sessions will be hosted at the Government Administration Building, covering topics such as understanding your pay slip, budgeting, income tax filing, investing, and pensions. The sessions will feature both public- and private-sector experts, including civil servants from the Tax Administration and financial-sector professionals.

Financial Literacy Month 2025 also includes a School Tour titled “Money Matters for Young Minds”, where the Minister of Finance Ms. Marinka Gumbs will visit Grade 6 classrooms to introduce financial concepts through games, discussions, and interactive learning tools.

Another highlight of this year’s program is the “Banking in Sint Maarten” Panel Discussion, hosted in collaboration with the St. Maarten Bankers Association, taking place on November 30, 2025 at the Belair Community Center. This event will bring together key stakeholders to discuss how banking functions locally, challenges residents face, and opportunities to support personal financial goals.

All events are free and open to the public. The full calendar of events, along with promotional materials, can be found on the FLM2025 website www.finlitsxm.com as well the official Minister of Finance’s Ms. Marinka Gumbs and the official Government of Sint Maarten’s social media Facebook accounts.