PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of proactive measures in preparation for the upcoming tourist season, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM), the Community Police Officers of Philipsburg (CPO), and the Special Action Team have been conducting increased enforcement actions in the Philipsburg area throughout the month of September 2024. These measures are aimed at ensuring the safety and security of both residents and visitors, as well as maintaining smooth operations during the busy period ahead.

Since the beginning of September 2024, a team of officers has been carrying out extensive traffic and public safety controls in the Philipsburg area. Up to September 22, 2024, officers have issued a total of 238 fines for various infractions, including:

• Illegal parking
• Technical issues with vehicles
• Failure to wear seatbelts

These controls are part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with traffic laws and improve overall safety within Philipsburg. The public is reminded that these enforcement actions will continue throughout the season to help maintain order and enhance public safety.

In addition to traffic controls, the Community Police Officer of Philipsburg has taken action to prevent motor vehicles from accessing and parking on the boardwalk. This is in response to concerns regarding pedestrian safety in the area.

The main square in front of the Courthouse, leading to the boardwalk, has been closed off, with a chain to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering. This is intended to protect pedestrians using the boardwalk, especially as foot traffic.

 The community officer is also working closely with local businesses to facilitate deliveries in a manner that does not compromise the safety of the boardwalk. Special arrangements are being made to ensure that business operations are not disrupted while safeguarding the public.

 These measures are being carried out with the general safety of the public in mind. KPSM urges all residents, business owners, and visitors to cooperate with law enforcement and adhere to traffic regulations and safety protocols.

 KPSM remains committed to creating a secure environment for everyone, and these efforts are part of our ongoing mission to ensure a safe community.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is currently conducting investigations into a series of armed robberies that have occurred in recent days. The most recent incident took place at the McDonald's restaurant in the Dutch Quarter on Sunday, September 22, 2024, shortly after 11:00 PM.

At approximately 11:00 PM on the night of Sunday, September 22, 2024, three masked individuals armed with a firearm accosted employees of McDonald's in the Dutch Quarter as they exited the building.

The suspects were described as three masked individuals, one of whom was armed with a firearm.
During this robbery, one of the suspects fired a shot, which resulted in damage to the front door of the establishment. This action enabled the suspects to gain unauthorized entry to the premises.
Upon entering the restaurant, the suspects proceeded to steal an undisclosed amount of cash.
The suspects were later seen fleeing the scene in the direction of the French side of the island.

KPSM is currently prioritizing this investigation and other armed robberies and has increased police patrols to circumvent these robbery incidents. The community is urged to exercise vigilance and report any suspicious individuals or activities to the police.

The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is requesting assistance from the public. Anyone with information concerning this incident or who may have observed suspicious activity in the Dutch Quarter area at the time is encouraged to contact the police immediately.
The detectives investigating armed robbery cases are asking anyone who has information about this or any other robbery to contact the Sint Maarten Police Force at +1 721- 542 22 22 ext. 204 or 205 or the anonymous tip line on 9300 (free of charge).

The cooperation of the public is critical in helping law enforcement bring the perpetrators to justice.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Key Club of St. Maarten Academy kicked off phase one of its first major community service project last Saturday during the annual observation of International Coastal CleanUp Day. The project entitled: “Bin the Waste—Keep our Shorelines Great” was the brain-child of the club’s Distinguished Webmaster, Skyla Davis. As a final year student of the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) programme class of 2024, Davis drafted and submitted a proposal for the clean shores project to Key Club International—a Kiwanis Service Leadership Programme. The project aims to promote the protection, preservation, and cleanliness of the Little Bay beach near the Belair Hotel.

Since the rechartering of the Key Club in December 2022, Key Clubbers, in collaboration with their juniors in Builders Club, have consistently returned to Little Bay Beach once every two months for cleanup activities. During this period, students observed significant changes in the landscape of the beach, from widespread littering of single-use plastics, massive dumping of industrial waste, and, more recently, erosion of the beach. Davis remarked, “As young people, we have a responsibility to do everything we can, no matter how small, to protect and preserve our beaches; we are a small island country, and tourism is still the mainstay of our economy; therefore, preservation of our beaches must be a priority.”

With this vision in mind, Key Clubbers, led by President Ambreanne Brooks, set about executing the project plans. Brooks commented that the group chose to commence the project on September 21, 2024, because it was a fitting way to join with others in the largest international coastal cleanup initiative held annually in countries around the world. Brooks continued, “Convincing teens to get out of their beds on a Saturday morning for a beach cleanup at 6 AM is no easy job. But when we are united in our vision for a better St. Maarten, and we believe that each of us can make a difference, there is no stopping what we can achieve.”

The Vice Principal and Club Staff Advisor, Joanna Trim, echoed those sentiments, saying, “When young people are united in their vision and backed by Government, corporate St. Maarten, alumni, and other Non-Governmental Organizations, rapid change is not only possible but inevitable.” Notably, the St. Maarten Academy Key Club received its first grant from the Key Club International Youth Opportunity Fund (YOF) in April 2024 for its Clean Shores initiative. However, a requirement of the grant is that club members must source additional funds to supplement the grant in order to ensure the successful completion of the project. According to Vice Principal Trim this is where the real work begins— “teaching young people how to communicate with corporate entities and seek the support they need is all part of honing their leadership skills.”

Furthermore, Trim credited the club’s success thus far to powerful collaborative synergies: “We were not quite ready for the launch due to delays in receiving additional funding, but when Government agencies such as VROMI, local corporate giants like Sherwin-Williams Paint Store, ACE Hardware and Motorworld show their support for the initiatives of the youth of St. Maarten, change is not probable but made possible. There were many reasons to say no to the Key Club initiative, but it only took a few positive responses from corporate St. Maarten and VROMI Staff to ignite the flame in our young people.” Vice Principal Trim also commended the team from EPIC Sint Maarten Conservation for their efficiency in bringing together volunteers from various organizations annually for the International Coastal Cleanup: “EPIC volunteers met us on the beach and quickly joined forces to not only clean the beach but help us with finding driftwood for erecting signs.”

Phase one of the project involved painting a mural on the remnants of a concrete wall at the beach and installing hand-painted beach signs, which promote keeping the beach clean and pristine. Principal of the Academy, Mrs. Kim Lucas-Felix, commended Key Clubbers for their efforts in rallying all of St. Maarten Academy in support of their project:

Great changes can be achieved through small but meaningful collaborative efforts; it was a proud moment to see our alumna—Bernica Michel, aka NicaLabelle, lead our students in designing and painting the mural at Little Bay beach. However, hats off to all the parents and grandparents who didn’t just drop off their children at 6 AM but remained to participate in the cleanup. This overwhelming show of support of our students as they play their part in preserving the environment, is inspiring.

While the painting of the mural is on-going, phase two of the project is slated for Key Club Week which will be celebrated from November 4-9, 2024.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport is pleased to announce an upcoming parent information session entitled, "Bridging Communication Gaps Between Parents and Children." This session aims to provide parents with valuable insights and strategies to foster stronger relationships with their children.

The session will take place on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024, from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the University of St. Martin and is open to the general public. Parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone interested in learning effective ways of communicating with young people are encouraged to attend.

Whether you are a parent of young children or teens, this session will offer valuable resources to help you connect more deeply with your child, understand their perspectives, and create a supportive environment for open dialogue.

For more information, contact the Student Support Services Division at 543-1235 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also follow our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sssdsxm.
SSSD provides many services to students including educational diagnostic, psychological, counseling speech language pathology, social work, and career guidance services. SSSD also offers parent support groups, parental workshops and crisis management services for schools.