PHILIPSBURG:--- Science Week 2026, held March 9 to 21, 2026, brought together students, educators, professionals, and community stakeholders in a dynamic celebration of curiosity, innovation, and discovery under the theme “Innovate for Wellbeing.”

The week of activities highlighted the growing interest in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) across the island, while also reinforcing the importance of innovation in addressing real-world challenges and improving community wellbeing.

Science Week officially launched with an inspiring opening ceremony featuring addresses by Dr. Rolinda Carter, President of the St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation; Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina; and Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa Gumbs.

In her remarks, Dr. Carter emphasized the role of science and innovation in strengthening small island communities, encouraging participants to move beyond ideas and focus on solutions that positively impact society. Minister Gumbs highlighted the importance of nurturing curiosity, noting that “the moment a child asks ‘why,’ that is the moment science begins.” Prime Minister Mercelina described Science Week as a celebration not only of projects, but of the possibilities that young minds represent for the future.

Following the opening ceremony, a Horizon Chat titled “Moving Ideas into Solutions” set the tone for the week by encouraging participants to translate innovation into practical impact.

Student engagement remained strong throughout the week. 61 students from 6 schools participated in 7 STEAM-focused field trips to local businesses, gaining hands-on exposure to careers in healthcare, engineering, multimedia, and meteorology. These experiences allowed students to explore potential career paths and better understand the practical applications of science.

The flagship event, the St. Maarten National Science Fair, showcased student projects from Learning Unlimited, MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education, St. Maarten Academy, St. Maarten Academy VBC, and the Caribbean International Academy. Students demonstrated not only technical knowledge, but also confidence, collaboration, and a willingness to learn from peers and experts.

The public viewing welcomed local, regional, and international visitors, including delegations from St. Eustatius, Anguilla, St. Martin, and the United States, reflecting growing regional interest and opportunities for collaboration.

Science Week concluded with the Science Week 2026 Award and Closing Ceremony, where outstanding students were recognized for their achievements.

Reflecting on the week, Dr. Carter noted that Science Week created meaningful moments of connection, discovery, and growth. From collaborative discussions during panel sessions to hands-on learning during field trips and confident project presentations at the Science Fair, students were actively engaged in the process of innovation.

The week also extended beyond the island, as St. Maarten’s first robotics team, SXM Tech Tides, competed in the OECSRA Super Regional Robotics Challenge in St. Kitts, securing 2nd place among eight countries and earning both the Code Mastery Award and the Digital Engagement Award. This milestone reflects the expanding opportunities for students in robotics and innovation at the regional level.

“One thing is clear: our youth are ready,” said Dr. Carter. “They are ready to research, to be challenged, and to innovate. As a Foundation, we remain committed to providing those opportunities alongside our partners.”

The St. Maarten Science Fair Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to all who contributed to the success of Science Week 2026, including board and committee members, school management and coordinators, teachers, mentors, sponsors, volunteers, parents, and guardians.

The Foundation continues to play a vital role in developing a generation of young people equipped with the skills to think critically, solve problems, and lead innovation locally, regionally, and internationally.

Science Fair Award Winners:

Natural Science 12-14
1st: Vlad Ahlip & Amir Baharani (LU) - Mind Over Muscle

2nd: Joella Riviere & Shaniah Persaud (Mac-High) - Improving Posture to Prevent and Back Pain

Natural Science 15+

1st: Odeya Attia & Christine Cutler (CIA) - Investigating the use of seaweed for use in paper and packaging manufacturing.

2nd: Mya Gomez & Marit van de Wel (CIA) - Investigating seaweed for use as a fertilizer

Earth & Environmental Science 12-14

1st: Giselina G. Domatilia & Taina Clement (CIA) - Sargassum for use in Bioplastics

2nd: Daniel Samuel & Jelani Richardson (Mac-High) - Clean Water Solutions for Community Wellbeing

Earth & Environmental Science 15+

1st: Cheyandro Redan & Gloria Beretta (LU) - Watt's Up?

2nd: Menarly Edmond & Dandranee McNamee (Mac-High) - Waste Management Innovations for Small Islands

Social & Behavioral Sciences 12-14

1st: Shandelia Ashloy & Neriah Williams (Mac-High) - Reducing Bullying to Improve School Wellbeing

2nd: Annaya Mahtani & Charvi Pahuja (LU) - Academic Pressure Cooker

Computer, Software, and Robotics 12-14

1st: Elia Bevilacqua (LU) - The Cleaning Buddy Bot

Computer, Software, and Robotics 15+

1st: Shivanie Dookhan & Arianna Hernandez (LU) - Kindness Currents

Viewer’s Choice award 12-14

Vlad Ahlip & Amir Baharani (LU) - Mind Over Muscle

Viewer’s Choice award 15+
Neriah Richardson & Aarushi Goklani (LU) - Clot Busters

Poster Winner

Fang Yu Cai - Learning Unlimited

SXM Tech Tides selected representative

Jacob Boxshall - Learning Unlimited

Akash Pillai - St. Maarten Academy

SXM Tech Tides selected alternates

Edom Richardson - St. Maarten Academy

Dominic Peters - St. Maarten Academy Vocational Business Campus

For more information, please visit the SMSFF Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SXMSCIENCEFAIR/.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Government of Sint Maarten announces the official establishment of the National Child Protection Platform (NCPP), a national coordination mechanism designed to strengthen Sint Maarten's prevention and response to child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other forms of harm to children. The establishment of the NCPP was facilitated by the Department of Youth (DoY) within the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth & Sport (MECYS), in close collaboration with key partners from within the ministry as well as the ministries of Justice and Public Health, Social Development, and Labour.

The NCPP brings together the relevant ministries and key child protection partners on a single, structured platform to improve coordination, accountability, and action across the child protection system. Its focus is to ensure that children are safer, that support is easier to access, and that agencies work together more effectively when concerns arise.

The NCPP will focus on practical system improvements, including:

1. Improving coordination and case-response pathways between agencies and service providers;
2. Supporting national safeguarding approaches (including guidance, implementation support, and compliance monitoring where applicable);
3. Strengthening prevention initiatives, public awareness, and child safety education;
4. Advising on policy and legislative alignment to ensure the child protection system is clear and effective; and
5. Tracking implementation progress through structured reporting and follow-up actions.

 The NCPP will be led by two key bodies:

• Child Protection Steering Committee (CPSC): Responsible for strategic and managerial oversight, governance, and advocacy for child protection policies and initiatives, and for guiding national priorities.
• Child Protection Working Group (CPWG): Responsible for operational coordination, implementation of strategies, the development of annual work plans, and strengthening collaboration among child protection service providers.

In line with meaningful youth participation, the NCPP will be supported by a Youth Sounding Board to provide guidance on youth-related child protection matters.

 The Government would like to emphasize that child protection is a shared responsibility and requires strong collaboration between public institutions, community organizations, schools, care providers, and families.

Members of the public who suspect a child may be at risk are encouraged to report concerns through the appropriate channels and to seek guidance from relevant social support services.

Further information about the NCPP’s structure, participating entities, and implementation milestones will be shared as the work progresses.

PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, March 19, while in Aruba for Flag and Anthem Day, Minister of Justice Nathalie M. Tackling used the opportunity to engage with key border management partners and explore practical solutions to strengthen and modernize Sint Maarten’s systems.

As part of the visit, Minister Tackling, alongside Aruba’s Minister of Justice, the Honorable Mr. Arthur Dowers, toured the Immigration Department at Queen Beatrix International Airport, where the department marked its 57th anniversary. During the visit, the Minister received a detailed presentation on Aruba’s border control system, RADEX, to assess its functionality and explore opportunities to enhance its application in Sint Maarten.

Minister Tackling also met with officials from the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to gain insight into Aruba’s preclearance operations and integrated passenger processing systems. Discussions focused on advanced technologies such as APIS, ATS, TECS, Global Entry, and biometric screening, which support more efficient and secure passenger processing.

The visit also provided an opportunity to observe recent upgrades at the airport, including a fully automated central luggage-handling system designed to support streamlined operations in line with CBP standards. These systems, combined with integrated passenger screening processes, contribute to efficient passenger flow and reduced processing times.

The insights gained from this engagement will directly inform efforts to further strengthen Sint Maarten’s border management systems, enhance operational efficiency, and improve the overall travel experience while maintaining high security standards.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) informs the public that on Thursday, March 19, 2026, targeted traffic controls were conducted in response to ongoing issues with illegal scooters and unsafe behavior by some scooter riders on public roads.

These controls took place on A.J.C. Brouwers Road and L.B. Scott Road, areas where frequent complaints and the riders posed a serious risk to other road users.

During the operation, 18 scooter riders were stopped and inspected. As a result of these controls, 8 scooters were confiscated. These scooters were found to either lack the required legal documentation to operate on public roads or be deemed technically unfit and not roadworthy.

KPSM emphasizes that the use of illegal or unregistered scooters, as well as reckless riding, continues to negatively affect overall road safety across the island. These enforcement actions are part of ongoing efforts to address these concerns and ensure safer conditions for all road users.

The police would like to inform the public that such controls will continue in the coming period. Riders are urged to ensure that their vehicles meet all legal and technical requirements and to adhere strictly to traffic laws.

KPSM remains committed to maintaining public safety and calls on all road users to act responsibly at all times.