GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Veronica Jansen-Webster welcomed the turnout at the National Job Fair 2026 at the Aleeze Convention Center. Having encouraged job seekers of different ages to attend and helped some prepare for interviews, she was especially pleased to hear from participating employers that they had hired people on the spot.
“I thank the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour for organizing this job fair,” MP Jansen-Webster said. “Meeting an employer face to face can open a door. The next step is to make sure more of those conversations lead to interviews, fair consideration and jobs.”
The MP encouraged businesses to give more local job seekers the opportunity to prove themselves in the workplace. She also called for follow-up information on who attended and who secured employment. Employers she spoke with described seeing many younger and older applicants. If the National Employment Services Center (NESC) shares attendance data with Parliament, she said, it could be compared with the Department of Statistics’ Labour Force Survey to better understand which age groups need additional support.
“That kind of information helps the government focus its efforts and helps Parliament identify gaps we can address,” she said.
MP Jansen-Webster also thanked Sint Maarten students in the Netherlands who contacted her after her appeal in Parliament for graduates to consider returning home. She has forwarded suitable vacancies to individuals, shared resumes with potential employers and asked the Minister Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands to circulate recently listed government vacancies among students there.
“It makes me happy to hear from students who want to come home,” she said. “As a mother, I know your families miss you, and your island community misses you. We must give you a real opportunity to use your skills here and help build our nation.”
The MP said her proposed amendment to the 2026 budget to increase funding for external personnel within the Ministry of General Affairs reflected the same concern: staffing needs must be met, and available opportunities must reach qualified people.
MP Jansen-Webster thanked the employers, organizers and job seekers who participated in the fair. She encouraged job seekers who have not yet done so to register at NESC.sx and to check government vacancies at www.sintmaartengov.org under Residents / Employment. Anyone seeking help with a CV or wishing to share a résumé may contact her at veronica.webster@sxmparliament.org.
“A job fair can open a door,” she concluded. “Let us keep working together to make sure that door leads to meaningful employment.”
