On September 6, five years after Hurricane Irma, Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK Hanke Bruins Slot and State Secretary of Kingdom Relations and Digitization Alexandra van Huffelen visited John Larmonie Community Center in Philipsburg to be informed about artistic and cultural initiatives to uplift youth after Irma’s devastation.
In the presence of Minister of Education Rodolphe Samuel and Finance Minister Ardwell Irion, Jose Sommers of NPOwer SXM Community Service Organisation explained various initiatives for and with youths and showed a video giving thanks for the financial support of the Netherlands. “It is impressive that beautiful, positive developments can arise from such a traumatic event,” Bruins Slot remarked, and the attendees confirmed that St. Maarten residents are known for their resilience.
