VSA Minister Richinel Brug (third left) and MP Sjamira Roseburg (fourth left) with partners in the project.
PHILIPSBURG--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA has expanded the national breakfast programme, which will provide free daily breakfast to students at three additional schools beginning January 2026.
The extension has been made possible through a XCG 50,000.00 allocation approved by Parliament. The newly-added schools are Milton Peters College (MPC), Sundial School and Ruby Labega Primary School.
The breakfast programme is a collaborative effort between the VSA Ministry, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) and Rotary Club Sunrise, which are key partners in ensuring students receive nutritious meals to start their day, according to a press release.
The expansion follows a motion submitted by Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg, which was approved on June 23, 2025, calling for broader support to ensure that no child attends school hungry. The motion underscored that proper nutrition is essential to students’ concentration, academic performance, and overall well-being.
“No child should have to learn on an empty stomach,” Roseburg said, underscoring the importance of the initiative for youth development and equity across the country.
VSA Minister Richinel Brug expressed his support for the continued growth of the programme. “Ensuring that our students are nourished and ready to learn is an investment in their future and in the future of St. Maarten. We are grateful to our partners and to MP Roseburg for recognizing the importance of this initiative,” he said.
