Blue Wave donates to St. Maarten museum restoration

Ahead of Breastfeeding Week, former Sint Maarten Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug is calling on employers, male partners, families, institutions, and the broader community to take concrete steps to support mothers who choose to breastfeed. Brug emphasized that policies alone are not enough — practical action is needed to ensure breastfeeding mothers feel respected and supported in everyday environments. The appeal targets workplaces in particular, where mothers often face challenges finding time, space, and understanding to continue breastfeeding after returning to work. Brug's message underscores that breastfeeding is a public health issue that extends beyond the individual mother and requires a community-wide response. The call comes as global and regional awareness campaigns draw attention to the health benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers. Sint Maarten, like many Caribbean islands, faces ongoing public health challenges where early childhood nutrition remains a priority. Brug's statement positions breastfeeding support as a shared societal responsibility rather than solely a personal or medical matter.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), in partnership with the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) and the White and Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF), is preparing to mark World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) 2026 with a new approach to raising awareness. The announcement was made from Great Bay, Sint Maarten, signaling an early and organized effort to plan activities around the internationally recognized health observance. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually during the first week of August and aims to promote the benefits of breastfeeding for both mothers and infants. The collaboration between these three organizations reflects a coordinated public health effort on the island to educate and support the local community. While specific event details have not yet been disclosed, the early announcement suggests a broader and more ambitious program than in previous years.

The Collective Prevention Services (CPS), operating under St. Maarten's Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, has issued a public health advisory following the arrival of large quantities of sargassum seaweed along the island's coastal areas. The seasonal influx of the brown seaweed is a recurring phenomenon in the Caribbean, typically intensifying during warmer months. CPS is urging both residents and visitors to take appropriate health precautions, as decomposing sargassum releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which can cause respiratory irritation and other health issues, particularly for people with asthma or lung conditions. Beachgoers are advised to limit prolonged exposure near heavily affected shorelines. The advisory reflects broader regional concerns, as sargassum blooms have increasingly impacted Caribbean tourism and coastal communities in recent years. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as seaweed accumulation can shift rapidly depending on wind and current patterns.