PHILIPSBURG:--- Sint Maarten hosted the fifth edition of a regional forensic mental health seminar on March 9 and 10, 2026, marking the first time the event was held on the island. Organized through a collaboration between the Universities of Curaçao, Aruba and Utrecht, and Judicial & Institutional Services (J&IS) St. Maarten, the two-day seminar convened at the Simpson Bay Resort under the title "Psychiatric and Psychological Assessments and Reports as Entrance for Forensic Mental Health Care in the Caribbean Area." The event brought together prosecutors, judges, attorneys, psychiatrists, psychologists, academics, and justice and mental health professionals from across the region.

The central argument running through the seminar was unambiguous: without proper psychiatric and psychological assessment, the justice system responds to behavior without understanding its causes. That gap drives reoffending, limits effective intervention, and places sustained pressure on victims, professionals, and institutions alike. Across the Caribbean, mental health issues are too often identified late, forensic assessment capacity remains constrained, and access to specialized care is still developing. The result is that individuals cycle through the justice system without addressing the conditions underlying their behavior.

The seminar was formally opened by Cynthia Clarke-Filemon, Director of J&IS St. Maarten, Professor Frans Koenraadt of the Universities of Utrecht, Curaçao, and Aruba, and Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, each underscoring the urgency of strengthening the interface between the justice system and mental health care.

The program addressed the issue from legal, clinical, cultural, and practical perspectives. Manon Ridderbeks, Chief Public Prosecutor of Sint Maarten, outlined the prosecutorial role in initiating forensic mental health assessments within criminal proceedings. Attorney Sjamira Roseburg addressed how defense counsel can frame expert questions to produce meaningful, actionable outcomes. Judge Jos van Mulbregt examined how courts weigh mental health findings in determining criminal responsibility and sentencing.

Cultural and linguistic dimensions received significant attention. Dr. Eric Mijts demonstrated how language barriers, a persistent reality across the multilingual Caribbean, can directly undermine both the quality of assessments and defendants' access to justice. Dr. Margo Groenewoud examined the place of religion and spirituality in the functioning of Caribbean citizens, situating behavior within its broader social context. Professor Janine Janssen, criminologist and cultural anthropologist, presented on violence in dependent relationships and the recognition of early warning signals, arguing for data-driven and culturally informed approaches to detection. Professor Frans Koenraadt addressed the patterns and dynamics specific to domestic homicide, one of the most complex areas in regional forensic practice.

Psychiatrist Dr. Carl Blijd focused on the roots, triggers, and management of aggression, linking mental health directly to risk assessment. Dr. Gregory Richardson explored the role of identity, music, and cultural expression in shaping behavior. Forensic psychologist Johnny Boekhoudt and psychiatrist Nathalie Kingsale led an interactive case session in which participants applied assessment frameworks to real scenarios, a deliberate effort to move discussion from principle to practice. Aarti Baran delivered a hands-on session on self-defense and de-escalation, emphasizing proportional and controlled response in high-risk professional situations.

A panel discussion featuring Dr. Blijd, Director Clarke-Filemon, and Boekhoudt brought key themes together in direct exchange. Participants acknowledged the shared structural challenges: limited forensic capacity, delays between arrest and assessment, and insufficient integration between the justice and care systems. The seminar closed with two case presentations by J&IS probation officers Shelley Gordon and Ivan Plantein, who drew on active caseload experience to illustrate how policy, assessment, and intervention intersect in practice, grounding the academic discussion in operational reality.

Sint Maarten's hosting of this edition reflects the island's increasing engagement with justice reform at a regional level. Ongoing training, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and growing institutional awareness are laying a foundation for more structured forensic capacity across the Kingdom. The work, however, remains incomplete.

The seminar's closing message was precise: a justice system that prioritizes assessment does not merely react to crime,  it is positioned to prevent it. Building that capacity across the Caribbean is not a long-term aspiration. It is a present and pressing obligation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Saturday, March 14, 2026, host families along with the Internationalization Team of the  Milton Peters College, the Education Director and the Head of the Havo/VWO department bid safe travels to their German partners, who were returning back home, and two teachers of the  Milton Peters College, who will be visiting (job shadowing) the Githo Nijlen (technical) School in  Belgium for a week.

The airport departure hall was filled with smiling faces as the group of ten students and three teachers from the Anne-Frank-Realschule in Ahaus, Germany, departed from Princess Juliana International Airport after spending a week on our beautiful island. The group arrived on Sunday, March 8, 2026, to reconnect with their student and teacher partners, who are part of the Erasmus+ student exchange program at Milton Peters College. Their visit marks the completion of the 2025-2026 school year exchange between Germany and St. Maarten, which started in 2022-2023 and has become an annual project for the school, thanks to local funding  (Trepar Management NV, Steflogix, Tri Sport, Pharmacy Outlets Orange Grove, Caribbean  Concrete, Sol Antilles, Sunline Technical maintenance, Bureau Telecom & Post, SXM Lions  Club, Notary Boekhoudt, Pineapple Pete, Soggy Dollar, PJAE Airport) and the Erasmus+ funding. 

The students enjoyed a week with their host families. A program was put in place by the Milton Peters Internationalization Team that included classroom visits by the German teachers (job shadowing), while students followed their hosts' classes. Both groups also embarked on a 

tour around the island; they visited four of our 37 beaches, and they participated in various excursions, such as a scavenger hunt in Philipsburg, a visit to Parotteville, the Amsterdam and St. Louis Forts, and Perpetual Plastics. This allowed them to explore the island's history and the current state of recycling. These activities aligned with those that the group of St. Maarten students and teachers participated in during their visit to Ahaus in December 2025, when they also stayed with host families, learned about the city’s history, and visited their waste management center.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the host families and the sponsors on the island, who helped in making this trip a reality. The driving force behind the internationalization ambitions of MPC and Sundial School is the Erasmus+ Accreditation. Both schools can look forward to many other exchange activities in 2026, such as online correspondence and teaching, as well as mobility on the student and teacher levels. Meaningful trips to high schools abroad and innovative teacher trainings are part of the broader internationalization planning.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current road safety enforcement measures in Sint Maarten, noting that the present approach is not sufficiently addressing the root of the problem.
“If someone can replace a confiscated motorcycle almost immediately, then the system is not solving the problem,” Lacroes stated. No helmet, no road tax, no insurance required, no driver's license, and no age check!
He pointed to the ongoing practice of confiscating motorcycles during police controls, while individuals can easily purchase replacement bikes without sufficient checks on licensing, insurance, or compliance. This, he argued, creates a cycle that undermines enforcement and allows unsafe practices to continue.
MP Lacroes had already taken a step in that direction by presenting a motion that was adopted on June 23, 2025, by this parliament, which called for stronger enforcement, public awareness, and coordinated policy measures.
However, enforcement alone cannot deliver the intended results if gaps remain in how vehicles are imported, sold, and brought onto the road. Without proper regulation at the front end, enforcement at the back end will continue to fall short.
Lacroes also noted concern that, despite the clear directives contained in the motion, a comprehensive update on its execution has not yet been provided to Parliament. In this context, formal letters have been addressed to both the Minister of Justice and the Minister of TEATT, requesting clarification on enforcement measures and the regulatory framework governing the sale and use of motorcycles.
“The people of Sint Maarten deserve a system that works from start to finish,” he said. “We cannot continue to operate in a way where measures are taken, but the underlying issues remain untouched”.
He called for better coordination among ministries so that enforcement, regulation, and public awareness are aligned and implemented effectively.
According to Lacroes, real progress in road safety will only be achieved when policies are not only announced, but properly executed and enforced across the full system.
He concluded that addressing road safety requires serious commitment, clear accountability, and a willingness to move beyond temporary fixes toward lasting solutions.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is reminding the community that the Inter-Insular Gun Buyback Program has entered its second and final week, with the initiative set to conclude on March 30, 2026. Residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to safely surrender illegal firearms and help make Sint Maarten safer.

KPSM emphasizes that the buyback program offers a unique opportunity for individuals to turn in illegal weapons without facing prosecution for possession, while also receiving compensation based on the firearm's type and condition. This initiative is part of the Police Force’s broader efforts to reduce gun violence and remove illegal weapons from the streets.

Following the conclusion of the buyback program, KPSM will launch a targeted enforcement initiative titled “We Comin for It.” This operation will be driven by police intelligence and will involve coordinated actions, including searches of homes and businesses, the confiscation of illegal firearms, and the arrest of individuals found to be in possession of such weapons.

KPSM is making it clear that individuals found with illegal firearms outside the buyback program will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with Sint Maarten's laws. Illegal firearm possession carries serious legal consequences, including criminal charges, potential imprisonment, and a permanent criminal record.

The Police Force is appealing to all residents to make the responsible choice by turning in illegal firearms before the March 30 deadline. This is a final opportunity to do so voluntarily and avoid legal consequences while helping to protect families, neighborhoods, and the wider community.

KPSM urges the public to work with law enforcement to create a safer Sint Maarten. By removing illegal weapons from circulation, the community plays a direct role in preventing violence and safeguarding lives.