Philipsburg, St. Maarten – August 18, 2026 – The Windward Islands Bank (WIB) is proud to support the upgrade of the playground at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex as part of its ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.

The project originated from discussions between WIB and the National Sports Institute (NSI) regarding opportunities for the Bank to support community-focused initiatives. During those discussions, the need to upgrade the playground at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex immediately stood out as a meaningful project that aligned with WIB's commitment to investing in children, families, and healthy communities.

As one of the island's most visited recreational facilities, the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex serves children and families from districts across St. Maarten. Its central location and daily use by young children made it a natural choice for investment.

To mark the occasion, a soft handover of the upgraded playground was organized in the presence of the President & CEO of Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB), the Management of the Windward Islands Bank and representatives of the National Sports Institute. The gathering recognized the collaboration between WIB and NSI in bringing the project to fruition and reaffirmed a shared commitment to creating spaces that contribute positively to the development of the island's youth.

"At WIB, we believe that strong communities are built through meaningful partnerships," said Quinten Fraai, President & CEO of MCB. "When NSI shared its vision for improving the playground facilities at Raoul Illidge, it immediately resonated with us. Children deserve safe, accessible, and enjoyable spaces to play, learn, and grow, and we are pleased to contribute to a project that will benefit families across St. Maarten."

The playground upgrade represents Phase One of the initiative and includes the installation of new playground equipment designed to provide a safe and engaging environment for younger children.

WIB is also pleased to learn that the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex is expected to undergo additional improvements in the future. Building on this initial investment, WIB will explore opportunities to support a second phase focused on the addition of shade structures and finishing enhancements to improve comfort and usability for children and their families.

"Playgrounds play an important role in a child's development. Through play, children build not only physical skills, but also confidence, coordination, problem-solving, and social skills," said Jisk Goslinga, Director of the National Sports Institute. "This new structure provides many different ways to climb, balance, crawl, explore, and interact, helping children develop these skills while simply having fun. With the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex welcoming so many people every day, this investment will have a meaningful impact on a large number of children and families in our community. We are very grateful to WIB for making this possible."

WIB extends its appreciation to the National Sports Institute and all stakeholders involved in making the project possible and looks forward to seeing the upgraded playground enjoyed by children and families for years to come.

About The Windward Islands Bank
The Windward Islands Bank is committed to being Your Partner in Progress, supporting initiatives that promote sustainable growth, education, and social development across St. Maarten.