SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - What began as a deeply personal conversation about caregiving became an emotional moment of connection for community advocate Nzinga Lake, whose heartfelt radio interview on Thursday moved listeners to reach out and share their own experiences, struggles, and emotions.
Appearing on PJD2 Radio's The Breakfast Lounge with Lady Grace in observance of the United Nations International Day of Care and Support, Lake spoke openly about caring for her aging parents alongside her siblings, the sacrifices that caregiving can demand, and the importance of remembering those who spend much of their lives caring for others.
At moments, the weight of that experience brought Lake to tears.
Following the interview, she received numerous telephone calls from women and men who were moved by the discussion. Among those who reached out were current informal caregivers, people who had cared for loved ones who have since passed away, and paid caregivers. Some shared emotional memories, while others expressed the challenges and feelings they had carried quietly.
For Lake, the response reinforced a message at the heart of her ongoing “Who Checks on Us?” advocacy: caregiving is deeply personal, but the need for understanding and support extends throughout the community.
“Those tears came from a very real place. When people began calling and sharing their own emotions, I was reminded how many of us carry experiences that others may never see,” Lake said.
Her advocacy gained public attention following her August article, “Who Checks on Us?” which was covered by several local media outlets and called on the community to recognize caregivers and offer greater compassion and practical support.
Lake is now working to document those experiences through the “Who Checks on Us?” Community Caregiver Survey, which invites current and former unpaid caregivers in St. Maarten to share their challenges, needs, and perspectives.
The survey takes approximately three to five minutes to complete, and participants may respond anonymously. The information gathered will help inform a planned Community Caregiver Listening Report, which Lake hopes to eventually share with government, Parliament, and other relevant stakeholders to support constructive discussions about caregiving.
“Our stories deserve more than a moment of sympathy. They deserve to be heard, documented, and considered when we discuss the future of care in St. Maarten,” Lake emphasized.
Lake is urging the public to continue sharing the survey through family networks, workplaces, churches, community organizations, and social media so that more caregivers have an opportunity to contribute.
Equally important, she is asking the community not to allow the compassion stirred by the interview to fade.
“Please continue checking on caregivers. Call them. Visit them. Ask how they are really doing. Offer to help, even in small ways. Sometimes people are carrying more than they are able to say,” she urged.
Lake noted that caregivers may be balancing employment, household responsibilities, financial pressures, and their own health while providing care for aging parents, spouses, children with special needs, or other loved ones. A thoughtful gesture, a listening ear, a hug or an offer of practical help can make a meaningful difference.
She expressed gratitude to everyone who contacted her following the broadcast, shared their experiences, and supported the initiative.
Lake also expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Lady Grace, the PJD2 Radio team and all media outlets for providing a platform to share her caregiving journey and amplify the voices of caregivers across St. Maarten.
For Lake, October 29 must be more than a day of recognition. It must serve as a reminder that compassion, community responsibility, and meaningful conversations about caregiving are needed throughout the year.
“Once, they carried us. Now, as we carry them, let us carry each other.” WHO CHECKS ON US? WE DO. said Nzinga Lake.
Current and former unpaid caregivers are encouraged to participate in the survey, and all community members are encouraged to help share it:
https://bit.ly/WhoChecksOnUsSXM
Nzinga Lake
Community Advocate | Sint Maarten
