On May 26, 2023 at the American University of the Caribbean, the Integrity Chamber will host its first Integrity Symposium. This symposium, with the theme: “Building Integrity to Build a Nation”, will aim to stimulate a national discussion and offer new ideas about the foundational elements of integrity for building a stronger Sint Maarten. Various stakeholders within Sint Maarten and the Kingdom were invited. The public can also participate virtually via the Facebook or YouTube pages of the Integrity Chamber.
The event will be officially opened by the Prime Minister. Speaking at the event will be the president of the Integrity Chamber, Mrs. H.W. (Rian) Vogels. Vogels is the first president of the Integrity Chamber and was appointed by Kingdom Decree. Vogels has an extensive career of over 20 years in the judicial field in the Netherlands, where she practiced law and also served as a senior judge. Her vast experience in integrity matters throughout her career is exemplified by her serving on several supervisory boards, as a member of the Hague Court’s Recusal Committee (Wrakingskamer), and as mediator and deputy secretary of the Disciplinary Board for Accountants. She is also chair of the National Mining Damage Committee (Commissie Mijnbouwschade).
One of the keynote speakers for the symposium is Mr. Dion Abdool from Trinidad and Tobago. Mr. Abdool is a Board Member of Transparency International and immediate past Chair of the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute. He is an Attorney at Law with over 20 years of experience in the corporate environment and holds a Masters Degree in Law (Corporate and Commercial). Mr. Abdool is a Chartered Secretary, a fellow of the Corporate Governance Institute (FCG), and a graduate of the Harvard Business School (GMP). He has facilitated workshops, presentations and presented papers locally, regionally and internationally on areas such as governance, risk management, strategic planning, diversity, integrity in public life and procurement systems.
Also a keynote speaker is Professor Trevor Munroe, the Director of National Integrity Action in Jamaica. He is a member of the International Council of Transparency International, one of only 30 globally and the only such from the Caribbean. Professor Munroe has a First Class Honours Degree and a Masters in Government from UWI, and attained his PhD in Political Science from Oxford University. He has produced National Integrity System country studies of Jamaica, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and the Caribbean.
The symposium will also include an interactive panel discussion open to both invited stakeholders and the public (virtual). The attendees, both in person and online, will have the opportunity to ask relevant questions to the panellists, which include the keynote speakers and members of the Integrity Chamber, Mr. Rafael Boasman and Mr. Hans Lodder. The public of Sint Maarten is invited to participate in this national discussion on the Integrity Chamber’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
More information about the Integrity Symposium can be found at www.integritychamber.sx/symposium.
