Dear Editor,
The process to form the next government as initiated by the Governor, H. E. Eugene Holiday, is taking its course. In fact the “information” phase is nearing its end. We must also recognize, though, the political reality of government formations and the role of political parties in this process.

Dear Editor,
Happy International Women’s Day!
"Women need to be empowered through the strongest tool – education. They don't need to be subservient to anyone, but at the same time, men must change their mindset towards women. If they are more respectful towards them, then things will change at the grassroots level. It will happen slowly, but everyone has to move together." - Madhuri Dixit
Women empowerment has taken on a new meaning in this modern society. The power of a woman is not limited to self but to progress of a people in its broadest sense. Femi Fani-Kayode in the Premier Times of Nigeria noted that women are by far the deeper and more powerful of the two sexes.
With all this in mind, the steady increase in the number of working women, they have gained financial independence, which has given them confidence to lead their own lives and build their own identity. They are successfully taking up diverse professions to prove that they are second to none in any respect.
But while doing so, women also take care to strike a balance between their commitment to their profession as well as their home and family. They are playing multiple roles of a mother, daughter, sister, wife and a working professional with remarkable harmony and ease. With equal opportunities to work, they are functioning with a spirit of teamwork to render all possible co-operation to their male counterparts in meeting the deadlines and targets set in their respective professions.
Even with careful planning, women continually face challenges in society. Some of these challenges can be relieved by employer-provided family-friendly conditions for women. These solutions may include job-sharing where two employees cooperatively share the same job, part-time employment, staff working from home or telecommuting, flexible starting and stop times and flexible core business hours, and periodic paid and unpaid work interruptions for child care and elder care.
In modern age, women are going very well in all the fields of progress. They are demonstrating their talents in best. They are serving as teachers, doctors, engineers, administrators and even leaders of government. The need is to increase this ratio with balance. An empowered woman is an educated woman and more education among the women means more progress of our society and our nation.
Happy International Women’s day on behalf of the board of the Windward Island Teachers Union.

Board of the Windward Island Teachers Union (WITU)

Dear Editor,
International Women’s Day, March 8, is a day to reflect on the achievements of women all around the world as well as ponder on the goals and objectives yet to be achieved that would bring us closer to gender parity on all levels and in all spheres.
The IWD 2018 theme is Press for Progress, an urgent call not to give up as there is still a long way to go before parity is achieved and women all over the world enjoy the freedoms, rights and privileges affirmed to all men and women.
In St. Maarten, we can look back on the resilience of our women in the face of disaster and the heroic and selfless deeds by so many of our sisters, daughters and friends.
To all our caregivers and volunteers, we say “Thank You.”
Amongst these women, we recognize the important work of our teachers, who mold future generations.
To the women who put their lives on the line for the safety and security of others.
And then there is you and you and me, ordinary women with extraordinary strength and determination to face each day with a renewed resolve to press on; who overcome the challenges of our daily lives and still can smile.
“We Press for Progress, We Press on.”

Sarah Wescot-Williams
President of Parliament

Happy International Women’s Day 2018

Dear Editor,

Press for progress or in other words, push forward for progress in order to achieve equality for women in areas where it is felt that progress is still lacking for women, including in economic and social standing. I take this opportunity to wish all women in

Sint Maarten from all walks of life an enjoyable and most reflective day.

On this occasion I wish to give attention and support to the many women who became jobless in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Women from different backgrounds, who made a choice to leave Sint Maarten in search of work. Women, who brazed the odds and started a small business in order to help put often-overpriced food on the table, and pay the high rent.

Women, who to date have no place to live since the hurricane and shuffle from place to place every day, waiting for a safe place to sleep for themselves and for their children.

Women, who have written into the social housing scheme, and who have been waiting for many years to be able to live in an affordable and decent home. Women, who wish and can afford to purchase their social homes, waiting in vain to see yet another year go by with no firm decision.

The list continues, yes, right here in Sint Maarten. How about pushing for progress for these and other women, without having a specific social agenda, other than pushing for progress for all women, and by extension, our society would benefit and progress as a whole?

Less talk and firm decision-making is required sooner rather than later. How do we break this vicious cycle of marginalization, and achieve true empowerment of women in our society as a whole? This struggle is real. One of our most pressing issues facing our women today is the fact that reportedly a whopping ninety-four percent of our households have a yearly income of between 0-50.000 guilders a year. Most likely a great percentage of this figure comprises women.

Pushing for progress in our society is ultimately measured by the success of our empowerment programs and policies made available for women and girls that enhance their participation in our social, financial and economic life, visible through the improvement of their immediate surroundings. Improvement in their homes, real job opportunities, and their neighbourhoods.

Happy International Women’s Day 2018!

Gracita R. Arrindell