Dear Editor,

Kick ’Em Jenny is an active undersea volcano located about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of the island of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea. It is the only “live” submarine volcano in the Eastern Caribbean and one of the most active from time to time.

At the end of August 2025, the region was jolted when approximately 800 tremors were detected between August 27 and 28. The University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre (SRC) out of Trinidad and Tobago constantly monitors the volcano and maintains a maritime exclusion zone.

The UWI SRC refers to the tremors as the “unrest.” The last period of “unrest” was a four-day period in February 2024, during which over 3,400 events were recorded.

The volcano's first recorded eruption was in 1939, when a powerful explosive event was witnessed from northern Grenada. This eruption caused minor damage to nearby islands. Grenada reported high waves as well the islands of the Grenadines such as Carriacou and Petite Martinique. A small tsunami reached the west coast shores of the island of Barbados which reportedly caused minor coastal flooding.

Since its discovery, Kick ’Em Jenny has erupted at least a dozen times. Most of these eruptions have been detected by seismic and acoustic instruments, as they did not break the surface of the sea. The activity has ranged from explosive events that produced ash clouds and small tsunamis to more quiet, effusive eruptions.

The last confirmed eruptive episode of Kick ’Em Jenny took place on April 29, 2017. This eruption, like many others since 1939, was a short-lived event primarily detected by seismic signals.

There is a Kick ’Em Jenny Submarine Volcano Alert Level scale in place. Green indicates the volcano is quiet; Yellow indicates the volcano is restless, and this is the current level of alert. The other alert levels are, Orange, highly elevated level of seismic activity which could be an indication that an eruption may occur with less than 24 hours’ notice; and alert level Red, eruption is in progress or may occur without further warning.

According to research carried out, the primary tsunami threat from a major eruption of Kick ’Em Jenny is to the islands in the eastern Caribbean such as Grenada, because of its close proximity; The Grenadines (particularly the southern islands like Carriacou and Petite Martinique); St. Vincent; Barbados; Martinique; Trinidad and Tobago; and St. Lucia.

A very large tsunami could potentially reach a wider area, including the northern coast of Venezuela and the Leeward Islands, which would include St. Maarten. However, the severity of the threat decreases with distance from the volcano.

The travel time for a tsunami to reach St. Maarten from Kick ’Em Jenny would depend on the size and force of the eruption. However, modeling and historical data from past events indicate that within 90 minutes, it would take a tsunami to reach the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico

The potential impact based on research to St. Maarten would be coastal flooding that would lead to potential damage to infrastructure located along the coast, including resorts and homes.

Damage to infrastructure from powerful waves can disrupt transportation, power, seaport, airport, and communication systems. Besides those being damaged, this would further reflect on economic disruptions similar to what Hurricane Irma did in 2017.

Then there is the threat to life, particularly for people on beaches (if there is a tsunami during the daytime) or in low-lying coastal areas.

Predicting the exact height of a tsunami wave that would reach St. Maarten from an eruption of Kick ’Em Jenny has been described as a complex task, as the wave height would depend on several factors, including the magnitude and type of the eruption.

According to research, the most significant tsunamis from Kick ’Em Jenny would likely be caused by a large submarine landslide or a powerful explosive eruption that displaces a large volume of water. The current depth of the volcano’s vent (around 268 meters/885 feet) makes a large, tsunami explosive eruption unlikely.

The underwater environment – topography – determines the height of a tsunami wave. In deep water, a tsunami is a very long, low wave, but as it approaches a coast and enters shallower water, the wave slows down and its height increases dramatically, a process called shoaling.

An island’s coastal structure, harbors, and bays can amplify or diminish the size of a tsunami wave. The 1939 eruption of Kick ’Em Jenny generated a tsunami with a wave height of 1-2 meters (three to six feet) in the southern Grenadines and northern Grenada. The effect on distant islands was much smaller at the time.

A study on the tsunami threat to Puerto Rico from Kick ’Em Jenny, which is a similar distance away as St. Maarten, modeled a worst-case scenario. The results showed a maximum wave amplitude of 0.156 meters at a virtual buoy off the coast of Ponce, Puerto Rico. While this is a small wave, it’s important to remember that this is the amplitude in the open ocean.

Therefore, for St. Maarten, a small to medium-sized tsunami from Kick ’Em Jenny would likely be a relatively small wave in open water, but it could still be dangerous. The wave could increase in height as it reaches the shallow coastal areas and could cause damaging coastal flooding, especially in low-lying areas.

Caribbean nations can take a multi-faceted approach to mitigate the damage of a major tsunami, even if the probability is low. This involves a combination of pre-emptive planning, infrastructure measures, and public education. The key is to build a comprehensive disaster management strategy that integrates all levels of society.

Roddy Heyliger

Dear Editor,

I read Governor Ajamu Baly’s speech in connection with the opening of the new Parliament years and took me back to the 2006/2007 school year when I worked as the security coordinator and discipline coach. At that time already I realized that the youth of Sint Maarten were longing for specific guidance. Before that school year, the police was called to that school daily for all kinds of misbehaviour. During the year that I was there the police was called to the P.S.V.E. four times. He demanded certain rules be set in place and demanded that every Monday morning all the classes would assemble at the recess area and sing the Sint Maarten song together. No cell phones.

The teachers should be capable to respond to whatever was asked. One morning after working there for about three months, one of the male teachers greeted me with a high-five. He said to me “You’re making my job easier since you are here” Two things that I felt and still feel good about is that several times during that year especially boys would come to me and express that they did not have a father at home to speak to them in the manner in which I spoke to them. The other good thing was, even though I did not see it black on white, I was told that the passing percentage went from 57% the year before to 87% the year I was there.

In the meantime the person who contracted me had passed and the new president told me that the budget did not suffice to keep me. One of the teachers later told me that the new president told them in a meeting that I came in there like a one-man-gang, put discipline in the place, making the teachers look small. Although it is not the same topic, Governor Baly did not do any sugar coating. I too believe that it is time to embrace, commit and act.

Congratulations Sint Maarten!

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

The police force said it has also received complaints from drivers claiming unclear signage, but reiterated that information on the parking situation and enforcement measures had already been shared with the public in recent weeks. Wow. I wonder if the prosecutor approved this?

Let’s start by explaining that it is time enough that whoever is in charge press on the young men and women of the force that tourism is our industrial force. I will not even hint that we have to look the other way sometimes.

On the contrary we have to face it head on. But we have to use our discretion and we have to be reasonable. Let me say off the bat: The easiest thing for the police officer to do is to encounter traffic violations. That is what drivers do. They do not adhere to the traffic rules. And they will do that here even more because they see that officers also live violating the traffic rules during their free time, with their private vehicles.

There is a saying “ Verbeter de wereld, begin met jezelf.” I can go on and on but it is in no intention to ridicule anyone, but two wrongs do not make a right. Also I do not think that the innocent should pay for the guilty. But I constantly ponder if the public of which the majority appreciate law and order is voicing its opinion, where is management? Signage speak constantly and the law is there for one and all to adhere to.

The tourists who come from the neighbouring islands and rent a car, rely on signage. They do not know what was said yesterday nor do they know what is forbidden if there is no signage.

Years ago we had a Frontstreet which only needed maintainance. Somebody convinced the others that Frontstreet needed transformation and indeed today we can see that that transformation retransformed Frontstreet.

Was Irma the real reason for stores in Frontstreet not coming back? And what is the real motivation for rigorous towing of motor vehicles? As often as I drive up the Cannegieterstreet I have to stop for the buses that stop in the middle of the road because the gypsies make the bus stop in front of Dubble Decker their own. I believe an Immigration raid would produce good results.

Was there a meeting between Minister of Tourism, Minister of Justice and Minister of VROMI and their advisors, knowing that parking in around Philipsburg is very limited?

A word to the wise Always remember that the majority of any population appreciate law and order. Let’s be reasonable about it. The fines will come without a towing campaign. If the traffic signs are here, place them. Be fair to the people so that they can decide what and what not to do.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor,

Winair needs to be more client friendly. I decided to speak up about Winair’s services. For this year alone I already had three encounters with them, and they (workers) need to learn how to be client friendly. My first encounter dated back to March when I travelled to St. Maarten to purchase things for my business. I booked back the very last flight to return to Statia so that I could accomplish all that I needed to do that day.

To my disappointment, while still busy shopping Winair called me and told me to be on the airport by 4:00pm because the flight would be leaving earlier, I said to the person on the line that no, because I am in the middle of trying to do what I came to do and I don’t have time to return to St. Maarten anytime soon if you call the flight earlier. She told me ok she will call me back, so I said ok. She called me back a few minutes later and told me I don’t have a choice whether to come to the airport at 4:00pm or miss the flight.

At the moment I had no choice than to go and make the flight or overnight which I was not prepared for. Upon arriving to the airport to check in I explained to the worker at the desk the situation that I was in because of the flight leaving earlier. She then told me that Winair has the right to change the flight whenever they feel like. I then asked to speak to a manager which for the employee it became a laughing matter because I insisted on speaking to a manager.

Finally, one came, and I spoke to her and explained her the situation, she said to wait a minute, and she will get back to me. I stood there waiting for her return and she didn’t, she sent one of the same workers that was by the check-in desk to speak to me, I told her please to call the manger back as she said that she would return and I stood there and waited on her again for her to come and when she showed up she offered me a solution that was not possible, but I forgot to ask her name.

So, I left and went upstairs to catch the flight, while I was there, I remembered I didn’t ask her name, so I asked a worker her name and I got it.

It was not long after I was called to the desk and was given the name of the Manager by the last name Hodge and a phone number. Upon my return I emailed the manager Hodge 2 times, and I never got a response.

The second time I had an encounter with Winair was in June upon my return from Curaçao with a medical patient I travelled with from St. Maarten. Not knowing how long I would have to remain in Curaçao with the patient I did not purchase a return ticket until I knew when I would return. When I found out that the patient was able to return to St. Maarten from medical treatment, I then purchased my return ticket to Statia from St. Maarten on the last flight for that same day that I would return from Curaçao. To my dismay the flight from Curaçao which is Winair was delayed until 9:00pm that evening leaving Curaçao which caused me to miss my last flight (connecting) to Statia.

We arrived at St. Maarten around 11:00pm that evening. While waiting for our bags the workers of Winair were busy sharing out vouchers to the passengers that had connecting flights to Statia and Saba that same day and missed their connecting flight, so I politely asked where mine is. The worker told me I didn't have a connecting flight. I told her yes, I don’t live in St Maarten and I had a Winair ticket booked for the last flight and I missed it because of the Winair delay in Curaçao.

She told me it was not a connecting flight, so I don't have any right to a hotel voucher to sleep that evening so look at me here at midnight on St. Maarten airport and nowhere to sleep, no taxi, nothing, just there and the worker just disappeared, none of their business.

But I wasn't stranded thanks to one of my fellow Statians that gave his room and to the taxi driver that Winair arranged to take the other persons to the hotel, so that I didn't spend the night at the airport. If I didn’t have a connecting flight, how did they know to rebook my flight for the next morning?

Winair, however, rebooked my flight the next day to go to Statia, that is the most that they did. Not client friendly.

My latest encounter with them was a few weeks again when I traveled from Europe with my suitcase 23.3 kg that the airline allowed. I had to overnight in St. Maarten because of the weather that passed. I didn't change anything about the suitcase, and I had an overweight of 25.5 kg. Now I am still trying to figure out the overweight.

I did already pay for baggage and still had to pay for overweight, and the rudeness of the workers is on point. It is a shame that they are the only airline travelling to these small islands and they are so rude and arrogant to us as clients. They should recognize and show appreciation for the years that they have been and still are being supported by us people of the small island by being more client friendly and client focused.

Name withheld