Meet & Greet group photo.
THE HAGUE--While acknowledging the ongoing housing crisis in the Netherlands, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs says her ministry is actively working on solutions for St. Maarten students studying abroad.
This includes close collaboration with the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary, Kingdom partners and housing corporations.
The announcement came during a Meet and Greet event hosted by the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary on Friday, August 1, in The Hague. The event also marked the official launch of the Cabinet’s Diaspora Database, an initiative aimed at strengthening connections with the St Maarten community abroad.
Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell, who opened the event, explained the purpose of the new platform. “The database will provide a centralised space for St. Maarten students and young professionals in the Netherlands to register, connect, and stay informed about initiatives, opportunities, and events that impact our community,” said Arrindell.
Meet & Greet attendees mingling with each other at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary.
Gumbs thanked the Cabinet for launching the database, calling it “a valuable tool for the Government to stay connected with the community in the Netherlands.”
During her remarks, Gumbs spoke of her commitment to improving education and development opportunities back home. “The knowledge gained can always be brought back and applied at home,” she said, encouraging students to see their international education as a way to contribute to St. Maarten’s future.
She said this year’s preparatory workshops for students heading to the Netherlands had been comprehensive, but added, “Students should be made aware well in advance of the steps they can take to prepare for their stay in the Netherlands.”
The Meet and Greet wrapped up with a question-and-answer session and informal conversations between students, young professionals, and the ministers in attendance.
