Cul de Sac:--- St. Maarten Academy on Friday last opened its doors to all high school students and educators to showcase exciting opportunities they can experience through the school’s Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Programme.
The CAPE Open House highlighted the various Caribbean Associate degree programmes offered by its Sixth Form division, thereby bridging the gap between secondary education and higher learning.
The event aimed to expose students and their parents not only to the CAPE structure and curriculum, but also to the school’s internal framework, which redefines the acronym CAPE to reflect its core mission: CARE for students and their future success, AFFORDABILITY in access to quality education, PRODUCTION of outstanding academic outcomes, and a commitment to EXCELLENCE in all areas, explained CAPE Coordinator, Mrs. Doreen Edwards Mac Intosh.
With its focus on providing an affordable and high-quality pathway to academic success, the event highlighted the programme’s ongoing assurance to empower the next generation of scholars. This empowerment, stated Principal Kim Lucas-Felix, is not an idle boast, as the results year after year speak for themselves.
“Under the leadership of Mrs. Edwards MacIntosh, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of students who are making the Regional CXC Merit list. We know that this is no easy feat when students of the St. Maarten Academy CAPE Programme are placed in the top ten at the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) examinations from among thousands of students across the region. So anyone who chooses CAPE is definitely choosing quality education that can put them in great standing at any university of their choice,” Mrs. Lucas-Felix stated.
Invitations were extended to all local schools offering the CSEC programme, and Milton Peters College (MPC) led the way with a delegation of 48 attendees, including 4th- and 5th-form students and their teachers. Students from Forms 3 - 5 at St. Maarten Academy also participated, gaining valuable insight into the opportunities the CAPE 6th Form Programme offers.
The Open House featured lively, interactive engagement. Visitors didn’t just observe; they participated. The event featured subject displays led by teachers and current students, showcasing key aspects of the curriculum. Current CAPE 6th Formers served as campus guides and co-presenters, sharing their experiences and enthusiasm with younger students.
Vice Principal Ms. Joanna Trim opened the proceedings with a warm welcome, setting the tone for the day, while Mrs. Edwards Mac Intosh gave informative presentations, outlining the programme’s structure, benefits, and record of excellence. Mrs. Shameda Delaney-Weekes, the school’s Career Guidance Counselor, also played a vital role in ensuring the event’s smooth and successful execution.
“The excitement and curiosity from the students and some of our teachers were truly inspiring,” said Mrs. Edwards MacIntosh. “It was equally encouraging to see parents showing genuine interest in their children’s academic futures. Their engagement reminds us why we continue to strive for excellence each year.”
While organizers noted lower-than-anticipated parent turnout, students' enthusiasm and engagement made the day a resounding success.
The CAPE 6th Form Programme continues to welcome inquiries from parents and the wider community, encouraging all to discover how the programme upholds its motto, “Choose Excellence!” Students who have completed their fifth form year of high school can apply to the CAPE Programme via our school website https://www.stmaartenacademy.com/cape
KPSM Strengthens Youth Engagement Through School Visits.
PHILIPSBURG:--- As part of its ongoing efforts to engage positively with Sint Maarten's youth, the Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) has visited several schools over the past few weeks to connect with students, raise awareness, and promote education.
On January 28, 2026, officers from the KPSM Traffic Department visited Sister Magda Primary School. During this visit, officers shared important information on traffic rules, general road safety, and helped prepare students for their upcoming traffic examinations.
KPSM believes that early education and positive interaction are key to building responsible road users and strengthening trust between the police and the community.
KPSM takes this opportunity to thank the management of Sister Magda Primary School and the officers who participated in these meaningful engagements with the youth.
Training Conference 2026.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, 28 and Thursday, 29 January, police forces, chain partners, and training institutes gathered in Curaçao for the annual Training Conference. The two-day conference focused on how to organize a sustainable, professional, and regionally aligned education and development system for law enforcement.
The conference emphasized the importance of clearly identifying training needs and setting long-term priorities. On the first day, the Platform of Training Coordinators Caribbean (POC) discussed both content-related and organizational themes, including qualification dossiers, Basic Police Training (BPO), Integrated Professional Training (IBT), innovation, twinning, accreditation, and governance.
BPO is the foundational training program for new police officers, providing essential knowledge and skills to perform police duties. IBT is the mandatory ongoing training for serving officers, designed to maintain and improve operational skills such as use of force, arrest techniques, and professional readiness.
These discussions resulted in a series of decision cards, which were presented on the second day to the College of Police Chiefs (CvK) for further discussion and decision-making.
The conference demonstrated significant progress in recent years in professionalism and regional cooperation. Examples include joint regional training for IBT instructors currently taking place in the Netherlands and the development of a structured approach to qualification dossiers. Sexual Offences serves as a pilot dossier, and this approach will also be applied to BPO in 2026.
Challenges remain, particularly in ensuring sustainable follow-up within the police forces. This includes decisions on joint IBT policy, regional exchange, and how to keep IBT instructors adequately trained after completing their initial education. While the decision cards led to constructive and, at times, in-depth discussions, not all items received final approval. Where agreement was not reached, it became clear that further research is needed to support decision-making.
The role of the RST within the POC is twofold. On the one hand, the RST is responsible for training and maintaining expertise within the police forces in the areas assigned to it, namely technical support, digital support, and interception. On the other hand, the RST funds specific training programs for police forces, aligned with the tasks and priorities of the embedded teams. From both roles, training activities are planned for 2026, with attention to multi-year continuity.
Using the conference outcomes—both the decisions made and the discussions held—the POC will continue to define the multi-year training needs. Together with the training institutes, efforts will also focus on further strengthening cooperation, with a strong emphasis on long-term sustainability.
Public Meeting of Parliament regarding advice on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee related to NV GEBE.
PHILIPSBURG:---The House of Parliament will sit in a Public meeting on February 5, 2026.
The Public meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 10.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.
The agenda points are:
1. Incoming documents
2. Advice on the proposal by the Committee for Petitions on the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee related to NV GEBE
Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.
The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.
The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx
Government Affirms Commitment to Productive Public-Private Partnerships.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are a cornerstone of the current government's strategy for national development, according to Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Patrice Gumbs Jr., the Minister addressed the value of these collaborations, emphasizing the government's unified approach and its focus on ensuring that such partnerships deliver tangible results for St. Maarten.
Responding to a press release from MP Doran , Minister Gumbs expressed his wholehearted agreement that if PPPs can be used to rebuild infrastructure like docks, they can certainly be applied to rebuilding schools. However, he stressed that extra care must be exercised when these partnerships involve sensitive areas, such as children's education and well-being.
The Minister pushed back against any insinuation that there is a lack of alignment within the Council of Ministers regarding the value of PPPs. He highlighted that these partnerships are a key element of the government-led program, demonstrated by the cross-cutting nature of the recently presented inter-ministerial policy. This policy is designed to ensure that all initiatives align with national priorities and meet established quality standards.
From Words to Action: The Importance of Good-Faith Execution
Minister Gumbs also addressed claims that previous administrations initiated numerous partnerships while the current government is "doing nothing." He posed a direct question to the public: if these partnerships were established, where are their fruits?
He explained that partnerships, no matter how well-intentioned on paper, require active effort and good faith from all parties to succeed. "The reality is, ladies and gentlemen, partnerships do not bear fruit if they're not watered in good faith," he stated. "Different players bring different energy."
This statement underscores the government's focus not just on creating partnerships, but on actively managing them to ensure they are productive and achieve their intended goals. The emphasis is on moving beyond discussions and agreements to concrete actions and visible outcomes that benefit the people of St. Martin. The government's stance is clear: successful public-private partnerships are those that are diligently nurtured and aligned with the nation's strategic objectives.
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