PHILIPSBURG:--- A follow-up community information session on the implementation of Sint Maarten’s new mental health care center was held on Tuesday, November 25, at the White & Yellow Cross Foundation in St. John’s. The evening focused on responding to earlier community feedback, sharing updated drawings and information about what is to be expected during construction. A facilitated question-and-answer session followed this.
The event was hosted by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), and the Mental Health Foundation (MHF). Mental Health Foundation staff, board members, and other technical partners contributed to the discussions.
The Honorable Minister of VSA, Richinel Brug, gave opening remarks, thanking the public for attending and encouraging attendees to share their opinions during the session. He emphasized that consistent communication will continue throughout the construction phase to ensure that any disruptions related to signage, working hours, and traffic are managed responsibly. The Minister also called on the community to stay engaged with VSA and the NRPB so that any overlooked concerns can be addressed early. He noted that Sint Maarten is currently ahead of its Kingdom partners in both mental health service delivery and legislation.
Hendrikus van Gaalen, Director of the Mental Health Foundation, also shared his remarks. “It’s encouraging to see the level of engagement and interest from the public. We’re committed to ensuring the new mental health care facility supports both the people who seek help and the professionals who provide it.”
During the information session, attendees viewed a presentation of the updated architectural drawings, which incorporated suggestions from the first community session. These include hurricane shutters, more trees, and adjustments to address noise and safety concerns. The procurement process and construction timeline were also discussed, along with key points from the project’s Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), which outlines how construction schedules will be organized to mitigate disruption to the community.
In the question and answer session, the team addressed community concerns around parking availability, construction noise, storage of materials, working hours, traffic flow near the school, and nearby historic walls. Representatives from the project team, including the design engineer and MHF board members responded, explaining how these issues are being considered in the project’s planning and implementation.
The new mental health care center will be in St. John’s at the corner of L.B. Scott Road and the road to St. John’s. The center is a component of the Improving Mental Health Services Project, which is being implemented by the NRPB in collaboration with the Ministry of VSA. The project is funded by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands, and managed by the World Bank.