PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, during the reception marking the opening of the new Parliamentary Year 2026-2027, the President of Parliament, Hon. Mrs. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, recognized the top five nominees for the President of Parliament Award. This year, Parliament received a record 20 nominations for this prestigious award.
The President of Parliament Award is presented annually to a young person within the Sint Maarten community in recognition of exemplary behavior, leadership, and meaningful contributions to the community.
The top five nominees for this year’s award were Ms. Mai-Angel Martis, Ms. Arianna Khemchandani, Mr. Nahjah Wyatte Muñoz, Mr. Ingemar Arndell, and Ms. Sara Bharwani. Based on the nominations received, these five outstanding young individuals represent a diverse range of talents and achievements, including writing, athletics, dance, academics, community service, and public service. Despite their varied backgrounds and accomplishments, they share a common commitment to positively contributing to the Sint Maarten community they live in.
This year, the recipient of the 14th Annual President of Parliament Award was Mr. Nahjah Wyatte Muñoz.
Mr. Wyatte Muñoz received this recognition for his outstanding contributions to the community and the people of Sint Maarten through his dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to his sport.
At the age of 14, Mr. Wyatte Muñoz has made history for both himself and Sint Maarten twice within a span of two years. In 2025, he became Sint Maarten’s first-ever gold medalist at the NACAC Age Group Championships. He continued this remarkable achievement in April 2026 when he became Sint Maarten’s first-ever CARIFTA Games gold medalist, winning the boys’ Under-17 800-meter event in a personal best time of 1 minute, 53.26 seconds.
Mr. Wyatte Muñoz, who was accompanied by his mother and twin brother, attended the reception marking the Opening of the Parliamentary Year 2026-2027 to receive the award. He proudly accepted the recognition and expressed his sincere gratitude for being named this year’s recipient of the President of Parliament Award.
Mr. Wyatte Munoz was nominated by Ms. Naomi Korstanje of the St. Maarten Sports Federation.
The Parliament of Sint Maarten encourages all young people in Sint Maarten to continue setting exemplary standards of leadership and to contribute actively to the development of our island and its people.
