PHILIPSBURG:--- Last Thursday and Friday, President of Parliament, MP Wescot-Williams, led the Sint Maarten parliamentary delegation at a workshop hosted by Parlamericas in Grenada, focused on one of the most fundamental yet overlooked pillars of Caribbean economies: paid and unpaid care work.

Reflecting on the engagement, MP Wescot -Williams noted that the discussions brought into sharp focus a persistent reality; economies across the region are sustained not only by what is formally measured, but also by what remains largely invisible.

Care work, in all its forms, underpins the functioning of societies. It encompasses raising children, supporting the elderly, caring for the sick, and maintaining households. Despite its essential nature, such work continues to be undervalued, underpaid, and in many instances, unrecognized across the Caribbean, the MP further stated.

The workshop highlighted that unpaid care work is disproportionately carried by women. This imbalance has direct economic implications. When women dedicate significant time to unpaid caregiving, their participation in the formal economy is constrained, affecting income, career progression, pension accumulation, and long-term financial independence.

For Sint Maarten, these challenges are particularly pronounced. Limited public services, high living costs, and fragmented social support systems often result in families absorbing the burden of care privately, frequently placing that responsibility on women.

“While the concept of unpaid care work may at first seem abstract, its reality is deeply personal. Consider a family caring for an elderly parent living with dementia, in a context where institutional care is unavailable. Household help may be present, but without the specialized training required to manage such a condition. Professional care, where it exists, is often financially out of reach. In these circumstances, the responsibility falls squarely on family members, often adult children who are themselves parents, working or running small businesses. The physical, emotional, and financial strain that results is immense, and it is precisely this lived reality that underscores why recognizing and supporting care work is so critical.

MP Wescot-Williams reiterated that, in the Democratic Party’s 2024 political manifesto, the care economy is outlined as a key pillar of Sint Maarten’s future development. The discussions in Grenada reinforced the urgency and relevance of this policy direction.

The workshop also examined the conditions of paid care workers, including those in early childhood education, elder care, care for the disabled and domestic work.

The resulting paradox is clear: the work that sustains societies remains among the least valued in economic terms.

In light of the discussions, MP Wescot-Williams underscored the need for a shift in policy approach. Recognizing care as a public good will require strategic investments in childcare, eldercare, and community-based support systems. Such investments are not merely social expenditures, but critical enablers of economic participation and productivity.

Further, the importance of making unpaid care work visible was highlighted, particularly through improved data collection and the use of time-use surveys to better inform policymaking.

Improving the conditions of paid care workers must also be prioritized through fair wages, formalization of employment, access to social protection, and recognition of care work as skilled labor.

Additionally, a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities within households, communities, and through public policy was identified as essential to advancing gender equality.

As Caribbean societies confront aging populations, evolving family structures, and increasing economic pressures, the demand for care services is expected to grow significantly. Without targeted interventions, existing inequalities are likely to deepen.

Despite these challenges, the engagement in Grenada was described as constructive and forward-looking. Parliamentarians from across the region demonstrated a shared commitment to placing care at the center of policy discussions.

The focus now, the President of Parliament noted, must be on translating dialogue into concrete action.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Public frustration is boiling over as mountains of garbage, collapsing roads, and government inaction continue to plague communities across the island, prompting fierce criticism from Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis.
Lewis has sharply condemned what he described as the shocking level of neglect under the Ministry of VROMI, pointing to garbage piling up in neighborhoods, roadside areas, and public spaces while residents are left to deal with the stench, health concerns, and embarrassment of living in what many say is becoming an island dump.
According to Lewis, the worsening sanitation crisis is only one symptom of a ministry that has failed on multiple fronts. He has already tabled a motion of no confidence against Minister Patrice Gumbs Jr, citing what he called a pattern of incompetence, delays, and disregard for the daily struggles of the people.
The MP said he has been closely monitoring the ministry’s performance and found little evidence of urgency or effective leadership. One glaring example is Arch Road, where promised repairs remain unfinished while residents and motorists continue to navigate dangerous and deteriorating conditions.
Across the island, potholes have multiplied at an alarming rate, turning streets into obstacle courses and creating daily hazards for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. With recent heavy rainfall, road surfaces have worsened even further, exposing the fragility of infrastructure and the lack of preventative maintenance.
Motorists complain of damaged tires, bent rims, and costly repairs. Pedestrians are forced to dodge flooded craters and broken sidewalks, while businesses suffer from poor access and a growing perception that the island is falling apart.
Lewis also raised concerns that several road projects had already been signed off under former Minister Egbert J. Doran, yet were allegedly stalled under the current administration. If true, it raises serious questions about why approved works were delayed while roads continued to crumble and public frustration mounted.
Critics say the situation reflects a government more focused on excuses than execution. Garbage remains uncollected, roads remain broken, and promises remain empty.
For many residents, patience has run out. They are no longer asking for miracles — only competent governance, basic sanitation, and roads that do not threaten life and property every time it rains.
As pressure mounts, the question now is whether Minister Gumbs will take responsibility and act decisively, or whether the island will continue sinking deeper into disorder, neglect, and avoidable decline.

French Quarter:--- The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to the Endemic Animal Festival. The festival will take place from 9am to noon this Saturday, April 25th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. It is a wonderful chance to learn about the special animals that live only on our island or only in our region. Attendees will enjoy a book giveaway, a craft activity, a scavenger hunt, and more. The festival and all of the activities are free.

“Endemic animals and plants are the most unique part of local nature,” explained Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “They are the species that live only on this island, or only on a few islands in our area. It’s amazing that there are plants and animals that can only be found here, and nowhere else in the world! They’re an incredible part of St. Martin’s natural heritage. Come out and celebrate them at this free, fun festival!”

Copies of Endemics Around Me, a bilingual coloring book and nature journal, will be given away at the festival. The book presents 40 plants and animals that are unique to St. Martin or to our region.

“We love giving this book to kids,” said author Mark Yokoyama. “It’s a great way to learn about animals and plants that live only here, like the Bearded Anole and the St. Martin Milk Pea. These are some of St. Martin’s most precious treasures.”

The event will feature a snail station where guests can learn how scientists find land snail shells in the soil. Many of these snails are special to our region.

Festival attendees are invited to explore the Amuseum gardens and grounds to find the plants and animals in the scavenger hunt. Kids and adults will also enjoy the event’s craft station, where they can decorate magnetic canvases with endemic plant and animal designs to take home.

The Endemic Animal Festival will be from 9am to noon on Saturday, April 25th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove in French Quarter. The free festival is sponsored by Delta Petroleum. Development and printing of Endemics Around Me was supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin.

POINTE BLANCHE:--- A devastating traffic accident on Mountain Dove Road on Sunday afternoon has left the island in mourning after two people, including a young child, lost their lives in a violent single-vehicle crash.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 1:00 p.m. following multiple distress calls reporting a serious accident in the Pointe Blanche area. Responding officers discovered a white minivan overturned on its side, with three occupants trapped inside the wreckage.
Firefighters and ambulance personnel immediately launched a rescue operation, stabilizing the damaged vehicle before cutting through the roof to free those trapped inside. Despite their urgent efforts, two of the victims — one adult and one child believed to be around 7 to 8 years old — were pronounced dead at the scene.
The third occupant, believed to be the driver, survived the crash and was rushed to Sint Maarten Medical Center for emergency treatment.
Witnesses described the scene as heartbreaking, as first responders worked for hours to extract victims, clear the wreckage, and sanitize the roadway. Members of the Fire Department were praised for their professionalism and courage under traumatic conditions.
The Police Force of Sint Maarten Traffic Department remains on the scene, conducting a full investigation into the cause of the fatal rollover. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether speed, mechanical failure, or road conditions played a role.
Police extended condolences to the grieving families and used the tragedy to urge motorists to exercise greater caution on the nation’s roads.
Sunday’s crash adds to growing concerns about road safety on steep and winding routes such as Mountain Dove Road, where accidents have occurred before. For many across St. Maarten, however, the focus tonight is not statistics — but the unbearable loss of two lives, one of them a child whose future was just beginning.