At her own expense, MP Roseburg takes St. Maarten's Voice to Caribbean Leadership Summit

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg traveled to Curaçao at her own expense, following an invitation to participate in the Caribbean United in Excellence Summit, seizing the opportunity to represent St. Maarten among regional leaders, changemakers and Caribbean forward thinkers seeking to strengthen regional cooperation, develop practical solutions to shared challenges and create greater economic, social and developmental opportunities for Caribbean people.

Although the visit was not an official parliamentary work trip, Roseburg said she made the personal decision to attend because she believes St. Maarten must have a voice in regional conversations that can influence the country's future.

Roseburg attended the summit on Friday, October 9, during a three-day visit to Curaçao from October 8 to 10, coinciding with the country's Autonomy Day celebrations. She explained that accepting the invitation and covering her own expenses reflected her conviction that meaningful regional engagement should not depend solely on official delegations or government-sponsored travel, particularly when opportunities arise to build relationships and learn from the experiences of Caribbean neighbors.

"When the invitation came, I accepted and chose to attend at my own expense, because I believed it was important to make sure St. Maarten was in the room," Roseburg stated.

The summit brought together heads of government, parliamentarians, regional representatives, experts and young people to examine how Caribbean countries can deepen cooperation while confronting many of the same economic, social and developmental challenges.

Among the regional leaders in attendance were Prime Minister of Aruba Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Jamaica the Most Honourable Dr. Andrew Holness, Vice President of Suriname Gregory Rusland and Cayman Islands Minister for Social Development and Innovation the Honourable Isaac D. Rankine.

For Roseburg, the gathering represented an opportunity not only to participate in discussions affecting the wider Caribbean, but also to establish and strengthen relationships that could benefit St. Maarten. She said the region's different national identities should not prevent its countries from pooling their knowledge, experience and talent to address common challenges.

"St. Maarten has a real role to play in this region, and we cannot afford to stand on the sidelines of these conversations," she said.

The MP pointed to economic resilience, climate change, disaster preparedness and opportunities for young people as areas where regional cooperation can produce meaningful results. She emphasized that these challenges extend beyond national borders and cannot effectively be addressed by individual islands acting alone.

Although St. Maarten is not yet a member of CARICOM, Roseburg stressed that decisions and developments throughout the Caribbean still affect the country's economy, security and population. She believes St. Maarten must therefore remain engaged with regional partners, build relationships and contribute its perspective wherever opportunities for cooperation arise.

"As a Member of Parliament, I wanted to be there to listen, to learn and to bring back what can be applied at home," she explained.

One of the central messages of the summit was the need for Caribbean countries to recognize the potential that exists within the region itself.

Roseburg highlighted the keynote address delivered by Prof. Dr. Rose Mary Allen, the first female professor at the University of Curaçao, which she described as especially powerful in setting the tone for the gathering.

The summit challenged participants to consider a fundamental question: What if the Caribbean finally chose the Caribbean?

Roseburg reflected on the reality that millions of visitors travel to Caribbean destinations every year, yet countries within the region do not always look to one another with the same enthusiasm for opportunities, expertise and partnerships.

She recalled another message raised during the summit: If choosing each other works, why don't we do it more?

For the MP, these questions underscored the importance of changing how Caribbean societies view their own capabilities and the possibilities available through closer regional relationships.

"My key takeaway is that we must change that mindset and look to one another first, for trade, for knowledge, for solutions and for partnerships. We must keep finding each other," Roseburg stated.

She expressed her intention to pursue further collaboration and strengthen relationships that can bring Caribbean countries closer together.

Public Safety Discussions with Jamaica's Prime Minister

Among the most significant engagements during the summit was Roseburg's conversation with Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, particularly concerning Jamaica's experience in tackling violent crime.

Roseburg noted that Jamaica recorded its lowest number of murders in more than three decades in 2025, with a reduction of approximately 40 percent in a single year.

She identified several approaches behind Jamaica's reported progress, including increased investment in policing, intelligence-led law enforcement, improved coordination among police, military and other security agencies, and prevention programs targeting at-risk communities and violence in schools.

According to Roseburg, Jamaica's experience offers important lessons for St. Maarten, where public safety and the prevention of crime remain matters of national concern.

The MP said she and Prime Minister Holness agreed to follow up after the summit. She intends to request additional information on the strategies Jamaica has implemented, with the objective of examining which approaches could be studied and potentially adapted to St. Maarten's circumstances.

Roseburg views this engagement as an example of the practical value of Caribbean cooperation, where countries can learn directly from policies and initiatives that have produced results elsewhere in the region.

Strengthening Existing Relationships Across the Caribbean

Beyond the formal summit discussions, Roseburg used the visit to reconnect with fellow parliamentarians and regional leaders with whom she had previously established relationships.

One particularly meaningful encounter was with Aruban Prime Minister Mike Eman, whom she had met before entering politics.

Roseburg recalled sitting down with Eman before beginning her political career and receiving advice that has remained important to her throughout her journey in public service.

As Eman prepares to step down as Prime Minister at the end of the year, she welcomed the opportunity to meet him again, thank him personally for his guidance and acknowledge his years of service to Aruba and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

She said one piece of advice in particular has stayed with her: "stay true to who you are."

The MP also described her reunion with Maria Liberia-Peters, the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles, as another memorable part of the visit.

Roseburg considers Liberia-Peters an important role model whose leadership helped open doors for women who subsequently entered politics and public service.

She expressed deep admiration for Liberia-Peters' strength, determination and contributions, noting that her example continues to inspire her own work as a parliamentarian.

Constitution Day and Shared History

The visit also held special significance because it coincided with October 10, the anniversary of the constitutional changes of 2010, when Curaçao and St. Maarten became autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

While Curaçao observes the occasion as Autonomy Day, St. Maarten commemorates it as Constitution Day, marking the date on which the country's Constitution entered into force.

As Chair of Parliament's Committee for Constitutional Affairs and Decolonization, Roseburg said observing the anniversary alongside Caribbean neighbors carried additional meaning.

She noted that the shared constitutional history of Curaçao and St. Maarten serves as a reminder of the relationship between the countries and the importance of continued cooperation within the Kingdom and the wider Caribbean.

For Roseburg, the occasion also reinforced the responsibility of Caribbean leaders to remain engaged with one another as their countries continue shaping their political, economic and social futures.

Curaçao's Sporting Achievements Offer Lessons for St. Maarten

On Saturday, October 10, Roseburg attended the Guinness World Records Recognition Ceremony at Plasa Brion in Otrobanda, Willemstad.

The ceremony was hosted by the Curaçao Investment & Export Promotion Agency (CINEX), in partnership with The Blue Wave, Federashon Futbòl Kòrsou and Curaçao Little League.

During the event, Curaçao received official recognition for three Guinness World Records celebrating achievements in international sports.

The records recognized Curaçao as the smallest nation by population to win the Little League World Series, an accomplishment achieved twice; the fastest pitch in Little League World Series history, delivered by Giendry Ryan; and the most saves in a single FIFA World Cup match, with goalkeeper Eloy Room credited with 15 saves during regulation time.

Roseburg had the opportunity to meet athletes being celebrated at the ceremony, including Room, with whom she held a personal conversation about the importance of maintaining ambitions and continuing to pursue one's dreams.

She said the exchange carried a message she hopes young people in St. Maarten will embrace: keep dreaming and continue working toward those dreams.

The MP emphasized that Curaçao's achievements should not be viewed simply as individual sporting successes, but also as the results of years of investment and collaboration involving youth leagues, sporting federations, coaches, families and government.

She pointed to the importance of countries celebrating their athletes and recognizing the role sporting accomplishments can play in raising their international profile.

Roseburg believes St. Maarten possesses similar talent among its young people, but stressed that developing that potential requires sustained commitment and support.

She identified structured youth programs, adequate sporting facilities, stronger support for sports federations and partnerships between government and the private sector as essential elements in creating an environment where young athletes can succeed.

The MP also drew a connection between investment in sports and the public safety lessons discussed with Jamaica's Prime Minister.

She argued that organized sports can play an important preventive role by providing young people with discipline, purpose, positive role models and opportunities to develop their abilities in constructive environments.

In her view, these investments should be considered not only as contributions to athletic development, but also as part of a broader approach to youth development and crime prevention.

Roseburg maintained that Curaçao's international sporting achievements demonstrate what Caribbean countries can accomplish when talent is supported by functioning structures, long-term planning and cooperation.

She believes St. Maarten can achieve similar success if the country makes the necessary commitments to developing its young athletes.

Turning Regional Engagement into Results for St. Maarten

Reflecting on her visit, Roseburg said her decision to attend the summit at her own expense was rooted in a commitment to ensuring St. Maarten remains connected to regional discussions, opportunities and partnerships.

She returned with new ideas, renewed motivation and strengthened relationships that she intends to build upon through continued communication and follow-up.

The MP reiterated that regional engagement must extend beyond attending conferences and participating in conversations. She believes the real value comes from using the knowledge gained, relationships established and examples observed to identify practical opportunities for St. Maarten.

She intends to follow up on the discussions held during the visit, particularly those related to public safety, youth development, sporting opportunities and greater cooperation within the Kingdom and the Caribbean.

"I return home with fresh ideas, renewed energy and stronger ties across the region. I intend to follow up on the conversations I had and to keep strengthening our cooperation within the Kingdom and the Caribbean, so that this experience translates into something meaningful for the people of St. Maarten," Roseburg stated.

The MP expressed gratitude for the invitation and the opportunity to participate in the regional gathering, describing the experience as time well spent and reaffirming her pride in representing St. Maarten.

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