CAY HILL:--- Mental Health Foundation (MHF) Social Psychiatric professionals at the Faraja Day Center, Janice Djaoen-Busby and Aisha Mathew, have successfully completed the Mental Health Professional – POH-ggz Caribbean course, an advanced-level certification offered by RINO Zuid in collaboration with Mental Health Caribbean.

The intensive program, which ran from September 2024 to May 2025, brought together 26 participants from across the Dutch Caribbean, including Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, and Sint Maarten. The course was designed to enhance mental health services throughout the region, with a focus on generalist care, transcultural approaches, and short-term interventions for chronic psychiatric conditions.

Training included an initial one week of face-to-face instruction, followed by biweekly online coaching and various assignments. To promote collaboration and peer learning, study partners were randomly assigned, a structure that both Aisha and Janice found valuable. They noted that this approach enriched their appreciation of shared challenges and regional solutions in mental health care.

Throughout the course, participants strengthened skills in non-verbal and experiential therapy, E-health tools, psychopharmacology, and culturally sensitive care.

Reflecting on the experience, Aisha described the training as a great refresher, helping her to relearn and reinforce effective, client-centred approaches in her daily work. For Janice, the program was a completely new and eye-opening experience, providing her with fresh perspectives on how to engage more meaningfully with clients.

Both shared that although they offered occasional updates to colleagues during the course, the demands of balancing work and study made in-depth sharing difficult. Now that they have completed the program, both professionals plan to host a workshop for all MHF staff and, in the near future, will share their insights in greater detail with the Faraja Day Center team.

Aisha and Janice are the second cohort of MHF staff to complete this prestigious course, following two MHF nurses who graduated from the same program in 2023.

MHF extends its heartfelt congratulations to Janice and Aisha for their dedication and accomplishment and looks forward to the positive impact their enhanced expertise will bring to mental health care in Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a bold and energized push to further stimulate regional tourism, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau (STB), in collaboration with the French St. Martin Tourism Office, hosted a high-impact Familiarization (Fam) Trip that brought 10 influential travel agents from Guadeloupe, Martinique, Curaçao, and Trinidad back to the heart of the Caribbean.

This initiative is part of a growing strategy to tap into the booming intra-Caribbean travel market, which has seen a 30%+ surge in regional flight bookings over the past two years. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organization, over 5 million residents of the Caribbean travel within the region annually, making this a lucrative segment.

“This Fam Trip wasn’t just a tour—it was a revelation,” said Gina Illidge, Marketing Officer from the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau. “Some of these agents hadn’t been to the island in over a decade, and what they experienced further enhanced their impression of St. Maarten-St. Martin as a top destination.”

The immersive itinerary showcased several hotels across the island; ranging from boutique beachfront escapes and budget-friendly amenities, to luxury resorts, giving the travel agents a firsthand look at the island’s diverse hospitality offerings. They were also treated to a curated culinary journey featuring a hosted breakfast, delectable lunch, dinner and cocktails, all infused with local flavors and mesmerizing views —demonstrating the island’s well-earned reputation as the "Culinary Capital of the Caribbean."

With regional travelers now seeking shorter-haul, culture-rich escapes within a safe travel environment, destinations like St. Maarten-St. Martin are uniquely positioned to deliver. “This is a new era for regional travel. We’re not just promoting our beloved destination—we’re reigniting regional pride, purposeful travel experiences, and cross-cultural connections," said Jacqueline Louis, STB's Caribbean Agent. 

Feedback from the attending agents was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing renewed confidence in selling the destination. Several agencies have already begun crafting new vacation packages to St. Maarten tailored specifically for Caribbean clientele.

This collaborative Fam Trip marks a powerful reminder: when French and Dutch St. Martin-St. Maarten unite, the whole island wins.

For more information, please contact STB’s Caribbean Agent: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

L’Agence de Santé Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy informs the population of Saint-Barthélemy that a new anti-vector campaign will be conducted from July 7 to July 11, 2025. This initiative follows the actions launched last December after the detection of a new mosquito species in the territory: Aedes albopictus.

This intervention will specifically target neighborhoods located between Saint-Jean and Petit-Cul-de-Sac. ARS agents will carry out enhanced surveillance by placing numerous ovitraps to monitor the evolution of the mosquito population.

Additionally, targeted anti-larval operations will be conducted using portable sprayers, allowing precise action in the most affected areas. These operations will take place early in the morning and/or late in the day, periods when the mosquito is most active.

No specific measures are required from residents, except to facilitate access to private areas that may be involved in the intervention.

L’Agence de Santé thanks the population for their cooperation and commitment to this public health initiative.

MARIGOT:--- Ensuring accurate voter registration is crucial for the efficiency and fairness of any electoral process. The Collectivité of Saint-Martin has launched a voter registration update initiative to optimize electoral operations, and residents are encouraged to confirm their postal addresses as part of this effort.

Purpose of the Initiative

The service des élections in Saint-Martin is conducting an address update campaign to verify and maintain correct voter information. This ensures that electoral documents, such as voting materials, are delivered to the correct addresses. The initiative emphasizes the need for voters to confirm their addresses and provide the necessary documentation for verification.

When and Where?

A voter registration office is temporarily set up in Grand Case to facilitate this process. Here are the details:

• Dates: Monday, June 30, to Friday, July 4, 2025

• Location: Local EDF office, Rue du Cimetière, Grand Case

• Hours: 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM

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• Send documents to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

4. Through WhatsApp:

• Send required documents to +590 690 33 61 06.

Documents Required

To confirm your address, you need to provide:

• A copy of your ID.

• Proof of residence, such as a utility bill. If you are staying with someone else, an attestation d’hébergement (proof of lodging) is required.

• Why It Matters
• This update is not just a bureaucratic formality; it is a crucial step to ensure every voter can participate in elections seamlessly. Accurate address information helps avoid delays or issues with receiving voting materials, guaranteeing that every eligible voter is prepared for election day.
• The Collectivité of Saint-Martin encourages all voters to take this initiative seriously and verify their information promptly. Together, we can help ensure the success and integrity of the electoral process.