Contributors in Issue 2

Jonathan van Arneman is a Dance/movement psychotherapist and Creative from the island of Soualiga. His 2020 film, Atlantis Rebirth, uses choreography to explore the defiant history of Caribbean people and imagine a decolonial utopia.

 

He holds a Master’s Degree in Dance/movement Therapy and Counseling from Drexel University and his culminating research focused on explaining how the ancestral knowledge embedded in Soualiga’s liberation dance, the Ponum, can be used to heal from colonial trauma. 

Angelique Remy-Chittick is a Financial Strategist, Consultant, and Coach on a mission to reshape how the Caribbean diaspora relates to money—starting at home. Born and raised in St. Martin, she brings global corporate experience and cultural insight to her work, merging data, storytelling, and strategy to turn financial complexity into clarity.

 

She founded Financial.ish to break down barriers and empower her community through literacy, accountability, and financial education. Through her writing, she challenges the status quo and explores the often overlooked connection between social issues and financial realities, with a focus on long-term reform and government accountability.

Deedee, born on Saba and raised in Sint Maarten, is a multidisciplinary international lawyer and environmentalist committed to advancing the rule of law, human rights, and sustainable development in the SSS Islands. She holds an LL.M. in Public International Law (Oceans, Environment, and Sustainability) from Utrecht University and an M.Sc. in Environment and Resource Management (Climate and Energy) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

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She specializes in legal and policy analysis, law harmonization, and strategic environmental advising. Deedee also serves as a volunteer judge for The Hague Inter-university Law Debate Tournament and as an ambassador for the WOW! Nature film showcasing Dutch Caribbean biodiversity. In her free time, she explores her Caribbean heritage through travel, dance, cooking, photography, and genealogical research.

Audrey Claxton, known as Saby in the art world, is a multidisciplinary artist; a dancer, actor, writer, and visual artist, she’s performed in productions like The Vagina Monologues, Rent, and Quashiba.

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As Head of Mediation and Education at the Territorial Archives, Audrey connects history with future generations. She made history as the first Saint-Martiner to win the Défi Jeune for her youth arts initiative “Class Art,” and leads ACED, the island’s first youth integration association.

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She founded COBRACED, an organization focused on social support, personal development, and community empowerment, especially for youth and single mothers. 

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Through art and action, Audrey inspires growth, resilience, and positive change—leaving a legacy rooted in service, excellence, and empowerment.

Dimetri Whitfield is a writer and journalist based in Saba and Sint Maarten, with work published in The Daily Herald, De Volkskrant, and The Caribbean Writer. With a background in cultural anthropology and history, he is active in the heritage sector and has served on the organizing committee for Saba’s Emancipation Day and is Secretary of the Het Herdenkingscomité Slavernijverleden, which promotes dialogue on slavery's legacy in the Dutch Kingdom and co-organizes the national commemoration in Amsterdam.

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Dimetri has supported journalism in the Dutch Caribbean through his work with the Fund for Special Journalistic Projects and has received backing for his creative writing from the Dutch Foundation for Literature.

Emani is a data analyst, strategy consultant, and fashion designer born and raised on the island of Sint Maarten. Being brought up and surrounded by so many thriving entrepreneurs, she was inspired to start her first business at the age of thirteen. With that success, coupled with the love and pride for one’s homeland that was instilled in her from a young age, she soon began to make big plans for how she could contribute to the continued prosperity of Sint Maarten.

 

Studying Business Administration and Finance at the Haagse Hogeschool, highlighted her passion for creative problem solving and community outreach.

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In the coming years she looks forward to seeing them come to fruition.

Laura Bijnsdorp is a writer and multifaceted professional from Sint Maarten whose work supports community development in many forms. She writes, develops communication strategies, coordinates projects, and collaborates with local organisations and government agencies. Her work is shaped by the idea that change is possible and often begins with a small, practical step.

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Her writing often explores sustainability, history, and social resilience. Most recently, she authored over 120 articles for the child protection magazine Growing Up Safe in Sint Maarten, covering topics such as youth mental health, family dynamics, and systemic challenges. She believes everyone has a story worth telling, and that sharing these stories can shift perspectives and spark change.

A certified auditor in international financial services turned heritage & succession land specialist on the island of St. Maarten.  She is a descendant of Dutch Caribbean people that have been residing in St. Maarten for over 300 years.  

 

Mrs. Jones devotes her time to heritage preservation & education and empowerment of the African - Caribbean Diaspora in the Dutch Caribbean.