PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Darryl York has raised concerns over the ongoing delay of his long-requested parliamentary meeting on the state of housing in Sint Maarten, stating, “We can’t continue to treat housing like a chapter that keeps getting pushed to the next edition of the government’s book of promises.”

The meeting, initially requested in May while York served as Chairman of the VROMI Committee, was postponed by Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs to October. However, with the final October parliamentary schedule now released and no housing meeting listed, York says the lack of prioritization is unacceptable.

“When the request was made, the Minister had already been in office for eleven months,” York noted. “Now, 6 months later, Parliament and the people still have not received a single update on the state of housing or the government’s plan moving forward.”

York said that while he initially showed understanding toward the Minister’s request to reschedule, the continued silence sends the wrong message to the public.

“By no means was/am I demanding a full-blown solution, but at this point, not even sharing plans or at least providing an update is deeply concerning. A year and a half is long enough. Our people have waited long enough.”

The MP also questioned the government’s handling of recent land purchases intended for housing development. “Millions of guilders were spent on acquiring land. One would assume that was done with a plan. If there is a plan, share it with Parliament —thus the people. If there isn’t, that raises even more concern.”

York, who has repeatedly highlighted housing as one of the country’s biggest challenges, reminded that he pledged at the opening of the new parliamentary year to be more assertive with the Ministry of VROMI. “The trial period is over,” he said. “It’s time for results”.

For many Sint Maarten families still waiting for affordable or social housing opportunities, York says the lack of updates feels like being forgotten. “It’s not about figures or floor plans, it’s about ensuring families that there's light at the end of the tunnel. They deserve answers, and I intend to get them. Because at some point, patience stops being a virtue and starts being an excuse.”

KINGSTON, JAMAICA:---  Hurricane Melissa continued to strengthen on Sunday evening as it churned slowly toward Jamaica, threatening to unleash catastrophic flooding, violent winds, and dangerous storm surge within the next 24 hours.

According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Melissa remains a powerful Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 145 mph (230 km/h). As of Sunday afternoon, the storm’s center was located about 120 miles (190 km) south-southeast of Kingston, moving west-northwest at a sluggish 3 to 5 mph (6–8 km/h).

Forecasters expect the hurricane to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday, likely along Jamaica’s southern coastline, bringing the potential for the most destructive impact on the island in decades.

“Melissa has the potential to be the strongest storm ever to make landfall in Jamaica,” warned NHC Director Michael Brennan. “Residents should prepare for catastrophic winds, flash flooding, and life-threatening storm surge.”

Jamaica Under Hurricane Warning — Residents Urged to Take Shelter

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica and the NHC have issued a Hurricane Warning for the entire island. Authorities are urging residents in flood-prone and coastal communities to evacuate or seek safe shelter before conditions deteriorate on Monday morning.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness addressed the nation Sunday evening, announcing that emergency shelters are open and government agencies are fully activated.

“We must treat this storm with the utmost seriousness,” Holness said. “Do not wait until tomorrow to act. Secure your homes, safeguard your families, and move to safety tonight.”

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) confirmed that over 900 shelters are ready and supplies are being distributed across all parishes. The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is on standby for rescue operations once conditions allow.

Forecast Impacts: Wind, Rain, and Surge

Meteorologists predict that hurricane-force winds — exceeding 130 mph in some areas — will begin lashing Jamaica by Monday afternoon.

• Rainfall: 15 to 30 inches (380–760 mm) expected island-wide, with isolated totals up to 40 inches (1,000 mm) possible in the Blue Mountains and interior parishes, posing extreme flood and landslide risk.
• Storm Surge: Up to 13 feet (4 m) of surge along Jamaica’s south coast, especially near Old Harbour Bay, Clarendon, and Westmoreland.
• Winds: Sustained hurricane-force winds over central and southern parishes by Monday night.

“This is shaping up to be a prolonged, dangerous event,” said Evan Thompson, Director of the Meteorological Service. “Melissa is moving slowly, which means more rainfall and flooding over time.”

Preparations Underway Nationwide

Airports, ports, and schools have been closed across Jamaica as residents rush to complete last-minute preparations. Gas stations saw long lines Sunday, and hardware stores quickly sold out of generators, batteries, and plywood.

Local authorities have urged motorists to remain off the roads starting Sunday night, as outer rainbands and squalls are already being reported along the south and east coasts.

In Kingston, businesses have boarded up storefronts while emergency crews began clearing drains and reinforcing flood defenses.

A Historic and Dangerous Storm

Hurricane Melissa’s rapid intensification over the Caribbean Sea has alarmed forecasters. Warm waters, low wind shear, and slow movement have allowed the system to strengthen steadily since Friday.

If Melissa maintains its strength at landfall, it would likely surpass Hurricane Gilbert (1988) and Hurricane Dean (2007) as the strongest storms to directly hit Jamaica in modern history.

After Jamaica, Melissa is projected to move toward southeastern Cuba and possibly the Bahamas by midweek, still at major-hurricane strength.

by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert

Brainstorming is one of the most effective catalysts for innovation when done right. It’s not just about tossing ideas around; it’s about creating a dynamic space where diverse minds collide, challenge assumptions, and spark breakthroughs. Brainstorming fuels innovation and unlocks creative flow by encouraging free thinking and suspending judgment, allowing unconventional ideas to surface.

Rapid idea generation helps identify multiple pathways to tackle complex challenges. One person’s spark can ignite another’s insight, leading to layered, more refined concepts; from spark to strategy. Conflicting minds can find compromise and unification in brainstorming sessions.

To a government, innovation within the country or a community is a local asset and a strategic advantage. When communities innovate, governments gain momentum, legitimacy, and resilience. It may lead to economic growth and diversification. Community-led innovation often sparks new industries and business activities. Grassroots innovation reveals real-time needs and solutions that can help governments craft policies that are timely and effective. It can dramatically reduce top-down guesswork and rather build bottom-up validity.

Innovative communities attract international attention, partnerships, and foreign investment. What is the importance of innovation related to global or regional positioning? Positioning is the strategic process of shaping how a product, service, or brand is perceived in the minds of consumers, especially in relation to competitors. It’s about carving out a distinct identity that resonates with a target audience.

 To accelerate innovation and problem-solving, ‘silos’ must be broken. A silo in group thinking is a mindset or organizational behavior in which individuals or teams operate in isolation, focusing only on their own goals rather than the collective mission. A silo mentality is the unwillingness to share information or collaborate across departments or groups within an organization, be it industrial or political. It often stems from competition between teams or leaders, lack of trust, or poor communication structures. Cross-functional collaboration reveals blind spots and opens new perspectives.

Who should join in innovative brainstorming sessions? To maximize innovation, aim for diversity in expertise, perspective, and personality. Subject matter experts, community stakeholders, and creative thinkers. Yet, just as important are a skeptic or devil’s advocate who dares to question suggested answers. The strength of compromising lies in its ability not only to create mutually acceptable solutions but also to bring them close to perfection. Mind that people of any kind, being buyers, constituents, or partners, don’t want paraphernalia but rather want benefits.

The contributing elements of innovation are pushing boundaries and introducing bold and imaginative concepts. Fresh, unfiltered perspectives have to be offered that challenge legacy thinking. Ideas must be aligned with long-term goals and feasibility, and ensure relevance and resonance with actual needs. Existing best practices should be taken into consideration.

Encouraging brainstorming for innovation is a strategic imperative for any forward-thinking leader, board, or team. Innovation demonstrates a proactive, future-focused leadership style. It drives competitive advantage and positions the innovator as a thought leader in its field, industry or region. It exposes hidden opportunities.

When citizens and residents innovate, they feel ownership over their future. This builds trust and civic pride. Youth-led initiatives, in particular, foster leadership and reduce brain drain. Start with the two questions: “What’s a challenge we’re uniquely positioned to solve?” and “What would make this island a global model for ???”

Innovation shall be our legacy. Let us not wait for ideas and solutions to arrive from abroad. Let us recognize, support, and scale the available brilliance in our communities. Innovation drives a flourishing economy that will benefit all!

PHILIPSBURG:--- In response to the ongoing rise in scooter-related traffic violations and the use of scooters in criminal activities, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) carried out a traffic and crime control operation on Friday, October 24, 2025, and Saturday, October 25, 2025.

The operation was conducted at several strategic locations across the island and focused primarily on stopping and inspecting scooter riders. The objectives were twofold.

To improve road safety by ensuring that scooter riders possess valid documentation, and to disrupt criminal activity by identifying individuals who may be using scooters to commit offenses or evade detection.

The controls were executed between 12:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on both days. During this period, a total of 40 scooter riders were stopped. Of these, 24 individuals failed to present the legally required documents. Additionally, one individual was arrested for possession of illegal narcotics in violation of the Opium legislation. The operations were also supported by members of the Voluntary Corps of Sint Maarten (VKS).

This action follows previous successful scooter enforcement operations, including one carried out earlier this year near the Simpson Bay Bridge. For this most recent operation, new locations were selected to anticipate shifting behavior and movement patterns among scooter riders seeking to avoid police controls.

Scooters continue to be a major factor in certain serious criminal acts and traffic safety risks. KPSM will continue to take firm measures and conduct controls to ensure safety and restore order on our roads and in our communities.

   KPSM urges all scooter owners and riders to ensure their vehicles are properly registered and insured, and to follow all traffic regulations.

KPSM Press Release.