{
    "title": "OECS Celebrates the Heritage and Resilience of Saint Martin",
    "modified_at": "2026-11-11 16:39:52",
    "published_at": "2026-11-11 16:40:00",
    "url": "https://pressroom.oecs.int/oecs-celebrates-the-heritage-and-resilience-of-saint-martin",
    "short_url": "http://prez.ly/EMpe",
    "culture": "en",
    "language": "EN",
    "subtitle": "OECS Media Release",
    "slug": "oecs-celebrates-the-heritage-and-resilience-of-saint-martin",
    "body": "<p>The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) congratulates the Collectivity and people of Saint Martin on the occasion of Saint Martin Day, a celebration that honours the distinct heritage, unique history and enduring spirit of unity of the island.</p><p>In his message for the occasion, the Director General of the OECS, Dr. Didacus Jules, underscored the strength of the people of Saint Martin. He observed that the day offers a moment to reflect on the tenacity of a people who have remained steadfast in their determination and confident in their aspirations for prosperity.</p><h4 id=\"a-community-shaped-by-its-people\" ><strong>A Community Shaped by Its People </strong></h4><p>Speaking on the significance of the day, Dr. Jules stated:</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;Saint Martin Day is also an occasion to recognise that the island&rsquo;s identity has been shaped not only by its history, but by the determination of its people to preserve a sense of community across generations.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><h4 id=\"a-valued-associate-member-of-the-oecs\" ><strong>A Valued Associate Member of the OECS </strong></h4><p>The Director General also paid tribute to the rich cultural heritage of Saint Martin, and to its commitment to resilience and its willingness to contribute to regional integration as an Associate Member of the OECS. He recalled the words of the President of the Territorial Council of Saint Martin, Mr. Louis Mussington, on the accession of the territory to the Organisation in March 2025:</p><blockquote><strong>&ldquo;Today, through our membership of the OECS, we are establishing a formal inter-institutional dialogue.&rdquo;</strong></blockquote><p>The OECS celebrates the rich heritage of Saint Martin and the considerable promise of its people, and reaffirms a shared commitment to building a united and prosperous future for the region.</p><hr /><div id=\"video-5a41d4fe-5236-4510-ae72-e66b76b83b82\" class=\"release-content-video release-content-video--embed release-content-video--contained\">\n    <div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNEBWLSUkeHU%23_cb1794428672&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" data-img style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>\n</div><hr /><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-8b24ea99-826f-4bfe-880c-483e94d7c7de\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">Claudia Mc Dowell</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Communications Specialist, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+1758-455-6340\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+1758-455-6340\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+1758-455-6340</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.oecs.int\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>oecs.int</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><div class=\"release-content-contact\" id=\"contact-86e5c309-1072-462d-9dbb-1cfccc1a172c\">\n    \n    <div class=\"release-content-contact__details\">\n        <strong class=\"release-content-contact__name\">OECS Communications Unit</strong>\n        <em class=\"release-content-contact__description\">Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States</em>\n        <ul class=\"release-content-contact__details-list\"><li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"mailto:media@oecs.int\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"media@oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-paper-plane release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-paper-plane\"></use>\n            </svg>media@oecs.int</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"tel:+1758-455-6327\"  class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"+1758-455-6327\"><svg class=\"icon icon-phone release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-phone\"></use>\n            </svg>+1758-455-6327</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://twitter.com/@oecscommission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@oecscommission\"><svg class=\"icon icon-twitter release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-twitter\"></use>\n            </svg>@oecscommission</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/@OECSCommission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"@OECSCommission\"><svg class=\"icon icon-facebook release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-facebook\"></use>\n            </svg>@OECSCommission</a></li>\n<li class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item\"><a href=\"http://www.oecs.int\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"release-content-contact__details-list-item-link\" title=\"oecs.int\"><svg class=\"icon icon-browser release-content-contact__details-list-item-icon\">\n                <use xlink:href=\"#icon-browser\"></use>\n            </svg>oecs.int</a></li></ul>\n    </div>\n</div><p>&nbsp;</p>",
    "header": {
        "large": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/ac8cd7b4-70df-4f8e-8cf9-9e129babe13c/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/",
        "release": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/ac8cd7b4-70df-4f8e-8cf9-9e129babe13c/-/preview/1200x1200/-/format/auto/"
    },
    "videos": [
        {
            "caption": "OECS Celebrates Saint Martin Day",
            "thumbnail": "https://img.youtube.com/vi/NEBWLSUkeHU/maxresdefault.jpg",
            "url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEBWLSUkeHU",
            "embed": "<div><div style=\"left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;\"><iframe data-iframely-url=\"https://iframely.net/api/iframe?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNEBWLSUkeHU%23_cb1794428672&key=8fe6cdec03482ac31f27a6ae8ea2fb3f\" data-img style=\"top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; border: 0;\" allowfullscreen scrolling=\"no\" allow=\"accelerometer *; clipboard-write *; encrypted-media *; gyroscope *; picture-in-picture *; web-share *;\"></iframe></div></div><script async src=\"https://iframely.net/embed.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"></script>"
        }
    ],
    "contacts": [
        {
            "name": "Claudia Mc Dowell",
            "company": "Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States",
            "description": "Communications Specialist",
            "email": "claudia.mcdowell@oecs.int",
            "website": "https://www.oecs.int",
            "address": null,
            "telephone": "+1758-455-6340",
            "mobile": null,
            "twitter": null,
            "facebook": null,
            "linkedin": null,
            "instagram": null
        },
        {
            "name": "OECS Communications Unit",
            "company": "Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States",
            "description": null,
            "email": "media@oecs.int",
            "website": "http://www.oecs.int",
            "address": null,
            "telephone": "+1758-455-6327",
            "mobile": null,
            "twitter": "@oecscommission",
            "facebook": "@OECSCommission",
            "linkedin": null,
            "instagram": null
        }
    ],
    "author": {
        "first_name": "PR",
        "last_name": "OECS"
    },
    "format_version": 6
}