Recently Minister Plenipotentiary, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell received Herbert Martina, Founder and Director of the Carib-Lens Creations Foundation, at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague.
During the meeting, Martina presented the Foundation’s work in documenting, researching, and preserving St. Maarten’s history and identity through documentary filmmaking, publications, education, and community engagement. He also shared the Foundation’s long-term vision for the proposed Soualiga House Knowledge Center, an initiative envisioned as a central repository for St. Maarten’s historical records, genealogy, oral histories, academic research, and other cultural resources. The proposed center aims to preserve locally produced knowledge and make it more accessible to researchers, students, educators, and future generations.
Martina provided Minister Arrindell with an update on the Foundation’s documentary project, The Great “Ole” Salt Pond, describing it as part of a broader effort to document St. Maarten’s heritage while creating educational resources and preserving oral histories. He also shared his aspiration to premiere the documentary in both St. Maarten and The Hague to engage local and international audiences.
A significant part of the meeting also focused on the preservation of academic research produced by St. Maarten students studying abroad. Martina noted that many theses and research papers containing valuable knowledge about the island become difficult to access after completion of academic programmes. He shared the Foundation’s vision for the proposed Soualiga House Knowledge Center to serve as a permanent repository where scholarly work by St. Maarten students can be preserved, catalogued, and made available to support future research, policymaking, and education.
Minister Arrindell welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the Foundation’s initiatives and exchanged views on the importance of safeguarding St. Maarten’s cultural heritage and strengthening knowledge-sharing. She encouraged the Foundation to continue engaging with a broad range of universities, cultural organizations, and relevant stakeholders throughout the Netherlands and Europe to expand opportunities for collaboration.
The Minister also shared information on potential avenues for cultural and academic funding and recommended exploring connections with additional institutions and individuals active in heritage and research.
The meeting forms part of the Cabinet’s ongoing engagement with members of the St. Maarten community and organizations committed to promoting the country’s history, culture, education, and identity, while fostering stronger connections between St. Maarten and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.