~In its fourth edition, the initiative will award two $15,000 grants to support Caribbean women researchers in STEM fields~

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO:---  L’Oréal Caribe and the UNESCO Office for the Caribbean announce the opening of the 2026 call for applications for the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science program, an initiative that recognizes and supports outstanding women researchers from the region by awarding two $15,000 USD grants to advance the development of their scientific research.

The call for applications will be open from May 19 through August 14, 2026, and is intended for women scientists from the Caribbean who are pursuing doctoral studies, conducting postdoctoral research, or are in the early stages of a scientific research career within the program’s eligible STEM disciplines.

The program is part of the renowned global L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science movement, created to promote women’s participation in scientific research and help reduce the gender gaps that continue to persist in STEM fields. In the Caribbean, the initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Caribbean Academy of Sciences and the Caribbean Division of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“At L’Oréal Caribe, we firmly believe that science needs the talent, creativity, and leadership of women to address the challenges of today and the future. Through For Women in Science, we seek to increase the visibility of and support women researchers who are generating knowledge and innovation with an impact on our region and the world,” said Liana Camacho, Market Vice President of L’Oréal Caribe.

Eligible candidates must conduct research in areas such as formal sciences, life and environmental sciences, materials science, engineering, and technological sciences. The awards seek to provide financial support and recognition to women who contribute to scientific advancement across different fields of knowledge and whose research helps drive solutions to some of the main challenges facing the region.

“UNESCO works to recognize and promote the talent of women in science, foster diverse perspectives, and break down the barriers that limit their professional development,” said Audrey Azoulay, General Director of UNESCO.

In its 2025 edition, the program recognized Jamaican scientists Dr. Lori-Ann Fisher and Dr. Arianne Brown Jordan for research addressing important health and environmental challenges. Dr. Fisher conducts research on genetic factors associated with liver diseases, while Dr. Brown Jordan studies the presence of bacterial diseases in water systems serving vulnerable communities. Their research highlights the impact of Caribbean women scientists in generating knowledge and solutions for the region.

Globally, women continue to face significant challenges in the scientific field. According to UNESCO data, women represent approximately one-third of researchers worldwide. Although Latin America and the Caribbean have a higher representation of women in science than the global average, significant challenges remain regarding access to funding, visibility, and leadership opportunities in scientific research.

Interested applicants can review the complete eligibility requirements and submit their applications through the For Women in Science application platform https://www.forwomeninscience.com/challenge/show/167 . The deadline to apply is August 14, 2026.

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~More than 20 persons attended Workshop Focused on Stocks, ETFs, AI tools, and Wealth Creation~

PHILIPSBURG:---  On Sunday, June 28, 2026, Islandpreneur hosted Invest in 2026, a hands-on financial education workshop that helped more than 20 residents in St. Maarten understand investing, the stock market, and how to build long-term wealth.
Held from 3:00 to 7:00 PM as part of Islandpreneur’s Essentials series, the workshop covered how the stock market works, how to choose between stocks and ETFs, and how to start investing locally.
The workshop was facilitated by Isaiah Peterson, a National Youth Pitch (NYP) alumnus and 2021 winning team captain who has invested since age 12, and Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion, also a long-term investor. Together, they combined practical investing knowledge, financial literacy, and technology to empower residents with tools for better financial decisions.
Live demonstrations brought the concepts to life, showing participants how compound interest, dividend growth, and portfolio management drive long-term financial growth.
The session also featured AI-powered tools that helped attendees organize information, compare scenarios, and simulate investment outcomes — supporting research and informed planning rather than replacing personal judgment.

Topics covered during the workshop included:
• Stock market fundamentals, including how markets function and the differences between stocks and ETFs
• Compounding, dividends, and building a simple, realistic investment plan
• Understanding risk, diversification strategies, and how to invest from St. Maarten
• Using AI tools to enhance financial learning, research, and decision-making
• The importance of long-term investing, consistency, discipline, and avoiding emotional decisions
• Overview of beginner-friendly investment platforms and tools available to Caribbean residents
Throughout, facilitators emphasized that investing is a long-term wealth-building process rooted in education, consistency, and responsible decision-making — not a get-rich-quick scheme.
“Financial literacy is not only about personal wealth. It is about opportunity, confidence, and giving people the tools to make better decisions for themselves, their families, and their future,” the organizers stated. “Invest in 2026 was designed to remove the fear around investing and show that the stock market can be understood when it is explained in a practical and accessible way.”
Islandpreneur continues to create learning experiences in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and AI education across St. Maarten and the wider Caribbean, making important financial topics more accessible through practical, technology-supported instruction.
Invest in 2026 reinforced a central message: investing is not only for the wealthy — it is a skill anyone can learn, at any time, on the path to financial freedom.
For more information about Islandpreneur’s events, including workshops, visit https://islandpreneur.co/events. To become an official member and get free access to tools, events, and international network, go to https://community.islandpreneur.co/p/member_signup

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Plenary of the Permanent Conference of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean (COPPPAL) unanimously elected James Finies as the new President of the COPPPAL Decolonization Committee.
COPPPAL brings together 80 political parties from 30 countries and is headquartered in Mexico City, the capital of the United Mexican States.
In recognition of Finies international and worldwide advocacy concerning Bonaire and other Caribbean territories administered by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the 43rd COPPPAL Plenary Meeting appointed James Finies to chair the Decolonization Committee.
The Committee's mandate is to promote dialogue and international attention on decolonization issues relating to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius (Statia), and Saba, as well as matters concerning Puerto Rico and the Malvinas (Falkland Islands).
During its plenary session at the former Senate building of Mexico, COPPPAL reaffirmed its longstanding position opposing colonialism in all its forms.
The organization encouraged continued discussion of these issues within the United Nations and other international forums and expressed its support for ongoing international engagement regarding Bonaire and other non-self-governing territorial matters.
COPPPAL also reiterated its solidarity with Puerto Rico and reaffirmed Argentina's position regarding the Malvinas (Falkland Islands).
As part of the plenary program, James Finies addressed delegates from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia on contemporary decolonization issues.
In his presentation, he highlighted concerns regarding the protection of Bonaire's cultural identity, the implementation of international legal standards, and the importance of ensuring that matters relating to the island continue to receive appropriate international attention through established multilateral mechanisms.
James Finies also drew special attention to what he described as the increasing marginalization of the people of Bonaire through institutionally steered laws and policies resulting into significant demographic changes over recent years.
Finies noted concerns that the proportion of the island's natives and long-established local population has steadily systematically declined as a minority percentage of the total population, raising important questions about the ongoing erasure of Bonaire's cultural heritage, identity, language, and meaningful participation in public affairs.
James Finies emphasized that these developments warrant continued dialogue and consideration within the framework of applicable international standards and the United Nations decolonization process.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Sint Maarten Xtratight Entertainment and the St. Maarten Little League Association are proud to announce a new exclusive partnership that combines community entertainment with youth sports development, creating a long-term collaboration designed to benefit generations of young athletes while transforming the Erwin " Richardson Little League Stadium into a vibrant community destination.
Under the agreement, Xtratight Entertainment becomes the Association's exclusive entertainment partner, bringing professionally produced community events and family-friendly experiences to the stadium while making annual goodwill contributions that
directly support facility improvements and youth baseball initiatives.

For Xtratight Entertainment, the partnership represents more than securing a venue for future events. It reflects the organization's commitment to investing in the community while creating new opportunities for local families to experience the stadium in a different way.
"As an event organizer, we have been looking for the right partner to expand our outdoor event experiences," said Rude Fleming. "The Little League Stadium has a rich history. Years ago it hosted concerts, festivals and community gatherings. We believe it is time to bring
that energy back while creating opportunities that directly benefit youth sports. Baseball played a huge role in my childhood, and this partnership allows us to make sports exciting again while giving back in a meaningful way."
The collaboration is structured around Xtratight Entertainment's Community Goodwill Initiative, in which entertainment serves as a vehicle for community investment. "Our partnership with Xtratight Entertainment represents a strategic investment in the long-term growth of youth baseball in St. Maarten," said Michel Hyman, President of the St. Maarten Little League Association.
The first event under the new partnership is the 2026 Latin American Caribbean Baseball Tournament from July 12 to July 18th.