Johannesburg, South Africa: A groundbreaking seminar took place under the theme “Indigenous & Neglected Crops: A Gateway to Sustainable Tourism and Growth in Africa and the Caribbean.” Held in hybrid format – with most participants joining virtually and a live audience at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) – the seminar brought together global experts, entrepreneurs, academics, and policy leaders to explore how centuries-old crops can shape the future of tourism. Organized by AgriLuxe Marketing, in partnership with the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Johannesburg, and the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), the event centered on discussing a bold new proposal for the first-ever indigenous crop-based tourism circuit connecting Africa and the Caribbean: the AfriCaribbean WILD Tourism Route, targeted to be Wholesome. Indigenous. Local. Diverse. Rooted in the Past, Cultivated for the Future. This pioneering initiative responds to global trends demanding deeper, more authentic travel experiences, climate-resilient food systems, and wellness-oriented offerings. With climate change accelerating and the global wellness economy reaching $6.3 trillion, including an $830 billion wellness tourism sector, now is the time to elevate indigenous crops from the margins to the mainstream. “These crops have sustained our communities for generations. They are nutritious, culturally rich, low-input, and climate-smart,” said Jeanette Sutherland, Founder of AgriLuxe Marketing. “But they’ve been sidelined in global markets. This initiative seeks to restore their place, not just on our plates, but as premium ingredients in immersive, multi-sensory travel experiences.” A Multi-Destination Culinary and Cultural Journey Inspired by successful international corridors like the Silk Road and the South American Wine Routes, the proposed AfriCaribbean WILD Tourism Route envisions a modular, multi-country experience. Each destination will contribute a “chapter” to a shared story rooted in indigenous crops, heritage rituals, healing cuisines, and creative expressions. Mr. Jerry Mabena, CEO of the Motsamayi Tourism Group, chaired the seminar. It featured opening remarks and a keynote address from heads of UJ’s School of Tourism and Hospitality, South Africa’s National Agricultural Marketing Council, the Tourism Business Council South Africa, and Africa Tourism Partners. Entrepreneurs showcased real-world case studies – from indigenous teas and reimagined culinary menus in South Africa, bespoke traditional catering in Zimbabwe, artisanal chocolates by a rural network of African and Caribbean farmers and chocolate producers, founded in Trinidad and Tobago, to farm tours in Grenada, and agricultural-based spa treatments in Barbados. Senior representatives from research institutions and development partners, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council, Afreximbank, the International Finance Corporation, the International Trade Centre, UN Tourism, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, and the CARICOM Secretariat, highlighted areas in which they are already partnering and other areas for future collaboration, to support the seminar objectives. Strategic Goals and Global Relevance According to Dr. Wendy-Ann Isaacs, Head of the Department of Food Production and Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Food and Agriculture at UWI, “the seminar and proposed route initiative could not be timelier.” Other participants resoundingly agreed that the timing was right. The convergence of climate urgency, the wellness boom, and diaspora reconnection creates a unique opportunity to: • Reclaim ancestral foodways and food sovereignty • Promote low-input, climate-resilient agriculture • Support innovative entrepreneurship in tourism, gastronomy, and agribusiness • Drive regional trade in indigenous foods and wellness products and services • Foster cross-border collaboration and air and sea connectivity Ms. Hafsah Abdulsalam, the CEO of LIAT20, Antigua and Barbuda’s innovative, start-up airline, shared insights on the company’s business plans for strengthening connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean and emphasized that direct airlinks between the two regions “are not just about transporting people and goods, they’re about unlocking economic, cultural, and historical potential.” She therefore urged for a connection “not just by air but by purpose.” Panellists also discussed mechanisms to ensure the initiative delivers shared benefits through collaborative branding, route standards and certification, and rotational culinary festivals, among other actions. Looking Ahead A key highlight of the seminar was an inspiring “elevator pitch session,” including a proposal for a WILD Food Safari in Mpumalanga, South Africa, to leverage the province’s wildlife game safari – an already well-established tourism offering; and another to promote high-end food events based exclusively on indigenous, underutilized, and emblematic crops, including Trinidad and Tobago’s Moruga Hill rice. The seminar concluded with a call to action from FANRPAN’s CEO, Dr. Madzivhandila, for long-term funding to be increased for feasible tourism projects that promote the regions’ indigenous and neglected food crops. A follow-up report and roadmap for action are expected in the coming weeks.
Ministry of VROMI Announces Partial Road Closure of Parallel Road Rubber Tree Drive, Concrete Resurfacing Project.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) informs the general public of upcoming roadworks in Cole Bay as part of the ongoing Concrete Hard Resurfacing Project.
The project will advance into Section 1, targeting the 90-meter stretch of road parallel to Rubber Tree Drive. The work will involve the full-length concrete paving, carried out in alternating sections with a road width of 2.5 meters at a time.
To facilitate these works, a half-road closure will be implemented for the first half of the 90-meter stretch, during working hours from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, for approximately two (2) weeks. One lane will remain open to allow limited access, and parking will be permitted along the road where space is available.
To minimize disruption, the road will be made fully accessible from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily. However, residents are advised that use during this time is at their own risk, particularly over freshly paved areas.
The Ministry also notes that temporary inaccessibility to homes may occur during and immediately after the concrete is poured, with exceptions made in case of emergencies.
The Ministry of VROMI apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks the public for their understanding and cooperation as we work to enhance our road infrastructure.
Key Information Recap:
Reason for Closure: Concrete Hard Resurfacing Project road works
Location: Road parallel to Rubber Tree Drive, Cole Bay
Date and Time: Monday, May 12, 2025 for approximately two (2) weeks | 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Parking: Allowed along the road where possible
For more information, please contact the Department of New Works at 542-4292 ext 2388.
First Response Enhances Sint Maarten’s Security with World-Class Israeli Training Program.
PHILIPSBURG:--- First Response, a premier security and technology company in Sint Maarten, has taken a major step in strengthening the island’s safety by implementing internationally recognized training standards through a new global partnership. In a strategic alliance with Chameleon Associates, a world-renowned provider of advanced security training and consulting, First Response raises the bar for security operations across the territory. Rooted in the Israeli security model—widely regarded as one of the most effective systems in the world—Chameleon’s methodologies have supported leading international agencies, government institutions, and law enforcement for over two decades. As part of this initiative, 45 First Response security officers recently completed Chameleon’s Security Foundation Training, which included: Predictive Profiling Security Questioning De-Escalation Techniques All participating officers earned official certification, demonstrating their enhanced ability to detect and deter threats proactively—delivering a higher level of security for the businesses, communities, and individuals they serve. “This milestone marks just the beginning,” said a representative of First Response. “We are committed to consistently elevating our standards through training, innovation, and global partnerships. Our mission is clear: to provide Sint Maarten with the most professional, intelligent, and trusted security service available.” In addition to operational excellence, First Response remains dedicated to its core values of professionalism, integrity, innovation, and care. The company recently launched a female employee empowerment program and continues to support local leaders using their platforms to promote positive social impact. Focusing on cutting-edge training, international collaboration, and meaningful community engagement, First Response redefines what it means to provide modern security in Sint Maarten—ensuring readiness, resilience, and respect at every level. Business Inquiries:
St. Martin Literature and Publishing’s Role in Development Shares Center Stage at Int’l Gathering of Caribbean Scholars for CSA 2025,
PHILIPSBURG:--- The 49th Annual Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) Conference will be held in St. Martin at Simpson Bay Resort, June 1–7, 2025. The conference registration and hotel booking list already includes over 300 guests, ranging from A-list scholars to university graduate students.
St. Martin will share center stage in regional intellectual discourse at this major academic conference that critically explores the Caribbean’s political, historical, educational, scientific, and cultural landscapes.
“That St. Martin is hosting such an assembly—one that engages these dimensions with both critical insight and professional rigor—is powerful,” said Lasana M. Sekou, projects director at House of Nehesi Publishers (HNP).
Sekou and the St. Martin book publisher HNP will be the focus of the plenary panel titled “Unshackling Memory: The Literary and Publishing Works of Lasana M. Sekou.” The session is part of the broader conference theme, “Reparations: Resistance, Resilience, Reproduction, and Rehabilitation,” according to Dr. Rhoda Arrindell, president of CSA for 2024–2025.
Coinciding with HNP’s 45th anniversary year 2025, the panel will bring together an international group of scholars and critics to examine Sekou’s literary and book publishing contributions to St. Martin and the wider region, as well as the evolution of the island’s literature. Panelists include Dr. Dannabang Kuwabong (Ghana/University of Puerto Rico), Dr. Margaret Shrimpton Masson (Mexico/UK), Fabian Adekunle Badejo (St. Martin), and Dr. Emilio Jorge Rodríguez (Cuba).
Dr. Arrindell, a St. Martiner and faculty member at Howard University, will moderate the discussion.
“We’re inviting the St. Martin people to join CSA members at the plenary on Tuesday, June 3, from 3:30 to 5 pm in the Simpson Bay Resort ballroom,” said Arrindell. A plenary session is the part of the conference where all participants can attend and engage in discussion.
During the session, panelists, CSA members, and attendees will also get a preview of Dr. Kuwabong’s forthcoming book, Rhetoric of Resistance, Labor of Love: The Ecopoetics of Nationhood in the Poetry and Prose of Lasana M. Sekou. The book will officially launch at the St. Martin Book Fair on Friday, June 6, at the Poetry Garden of the Collectivity government building in Marigot.
“At the CSA conference, there will be six exciting plenaries. We’re encouraging the public to stop by throughout the week at the resort’s ballroom to exchange ideas, engage in discussions that have real implications for our island and St. Martin people, and meet our guests,” said Arrindell, who, as CSA president, is overseeing the plenary sessions.
In addition, the week-long event will feature more than 32 panel sessions where scholars—including academics and experts from St. Martin—will present research and position papers. Other highlights include the Book Salon and the Author Celebration, showcasing new publications by CSA members.
Arrindell and the St. Martin CSA organizing committee are planning collaborative events with the 22nd annual St. Martin Book Fair, June 5–7, said Book Fair coordinator Shujah Reiph.
Public activities during the week will include a cultural showcase of St. Martin dance, music, and theater at the Marigot Waterfront, said Arrindell.
“The goal is for St. Martin to shine—by working together as organizations and sponsors, and by encouraging our people to participate alongside guest authors and the many visiting academics,” said Reiph.
The annual CSA congress of scholars, artists, and activists convenes each year in a different country or territory of the region. More information is available at caribbeanstudiesassociation.org.
Minister Brug announces upcoming Workshop: When to ring the bell: Recognizing and Responding to Emotional Distress in Children.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Richinel Brug is proud to announce the launch of the mental health awareness workshop led by Ms. Alexandrine R. Peterson, M.Ed., Clinical Mental Health Counselor, on May 24, 2025.
Alexandrine brings a wealth of experience in conducting psychoeducational assessments and providing counseling for children and adolescents aged 6 to 13. She has worked extensively with young individuals facing learning and developmental challenges such as ADHD, dyslexia, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and depression.
In addition to her clinical work, Alexandrine has designed and facilitated workshops for educators, parents, and caregivers on topics including emotional regulation, behavior management, and understanding learning differences.
On May 24, Alexandrine will lead a workshop open to anyone involved in the lives of children — whether you are a parent, teacher, counselor, family member, or friend. Participants will gain critical skills in recognizing early signs of emotional distress and potential suicide risks in children and adolescents.
Key Topics Include:
- How to recognize emotional distress and warning signs
- How to initiate open, supportive conversations
- How to guide children toward professional help
Why is it important to attend?
“What we are witnessing on Sint Maarten is a concerning rise in mental health challenges, particularly among young children. Tragically, we have seen cases where children have taken their own lives.” This is not a trend that I as Minister, wish to see continue.
“ We must act now to reverse this trend. But where do we begin, and how do we move forward? This workshop represents a crucial first step.
The more people who are able to recognize the warning signs, the better we can respond and the more lives we can save. Our youth are our future. If they cannot see a future for themselves, then it is our responsibility to help them find one.”
Are you ready to take on this responsibility?
For more information or to register, please contact:
The Ministery of Health, Social Development and Labor at
JamieThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.