~Part of School Safety Week activities~

PHILIPSBURG  -  The Student Support Services Division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport is holding a panel discussion that will take place at the University of St. Martin on Friday, October 24, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The panel discussion will focus on medical emergencies in schools and will be live-streamed via the Facebook and YouTube pages of the Student Support Services Division. This event is part of SSSD’s School Safety Week activities.

The goal of the panel discussion is to raise and strengthen awareness, promote shared responsibility, and get varying perspectives on the topic. Members of the panel include the Ambulance Department, students, a parent, and a Safety and Emergency team member.

We invite the public to join us online and to post any questions that they might have. Space is available for a limited number of people at USM, so if you are interested in attending in person, don't hesitate to contact SSSD at 5431235 and ask for Mr. Michel Chance.

The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by the schools, such as psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, and speech language pathology services. SSSD also provides general services such as career services, parent sessions/support groups, and crisis response.

PARIS, FRANCE:--- Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is currently serving a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison in Paris after being convicted of criminal conspiracy related to accepting illicit campaign funds from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Upon his arrival, Sarkozy faced immediate threats from fellow inmates, including a video where one shouted, “We’re going to avenge Gaddafi, we know everything, Sarko… we know everything. Give back the billions of dollars.” In response, two police officers from the VIP Protection Service were assigned to a neighboring cell to provide 24-hour protection.

Sarkozy, at 70 years old, spent a "frightening" first night in solitary confinement at the high-security facility. His conviction stems from allegations that he misused his position to engage in high-level corruption between 2005 and 2007, including accepting laundered money from Gaddafi's regime. Despite his incarceration, Sarkozy maintains his innocence, describing the conviction as a "judicial scandal" and vowing to continue fighting the case while in prison.

His wife, Carla Bruni, has publicly supported him, posting "Love is the answer" and criticizing detractors. Sarkozy's imprisonment has sparked political reverberations across France, with President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging the emotional impact while upholding the independence of the judiciary.

~Justice Minister Tackling Unveils New Border Control and Safety Upgrades~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Justice will roll out a new border control system and enhanced public safety operations in the coming weeks, as part of what Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling calls “a smarter, safer, more modern Sint Maarten.”

Although the Minister reserved full details for the official launch, she confirmed that the new border initiative integrates immigration, customs, and police data to strengthen both security and efficiency.

“We’re working toward a system where border control, immigration, and customs operate seamlessly,” Tackling said. “This is part of our chain approach to justice, because safety doesn’t stop at the border—it begins there.”

Crackdown on Illegal Scooters and Firearms

Tackling also highlighted a renewed police strategy targeting illegal scooter riders, firearms, and narcotics trafficking.

“KPSM has become more active in conducting night controls at locations frequently visited by scooter riders,” she said. “These operations also focus on preventing and reducing illegal firearm and drug activity.”

While declining to share operational specifics, Tackling said a previous version of the initiative had proven effective, and the ministry plans to replicate and expand the strategy.

“For security reasons, I can’t go into detail,” she said, “but I can assure the public that we’re building on past success to strengthen safety and maintain order.”

Regional Coordination and Data Integration

The new border management system forms part of a broader push to modernize Sint Maarten’s law enforcement and data systems, allowing agencies to share information in real time and improve the island’s response to regional threats.

“It’s important that the justice chain functions as one,” Tackling said. “That’s how we maintain Sint Maarten as a safe destination and a safe home for all.”

She also extended condolences to the family of Mr. D. Labadee, who died in a recent scooter accident, noted that road safety enforcement will remain a national priority.

“Losing a loved one is never easy,” she said. “May his family find strength and comfort during this difficult time.”

Justice Reform Moving Forward

Tackling concluded by reaffirming her ministry’s commitment to transparent, consistent communication and sustained reform.

“Even when there’s not much to announce, I believe in showing up,” she said. “Because consistent communication is how we build trust and accountability.”

~Tackling: ‘We Must Give Hope to Those Already Behind Bars’~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling says Sint Maarten’s justice reform will not wait for the new prison to open. The government, in partnership with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), will begin implementing rehabilitation programs immediately for current inmates.

“The UNODC is here on an initial fact-finding mission,” Tackling revealed. “They’ve hired a full-time program manager who will bring all the different components together. We need to launch these initiatives now—not after construction ends.”

Skill-Building and Reintegration

Responding to a suggestion that inmates could help with school feeding programs, Tackling said she supports that idea.

“Absolutely,” she said. “We looked at a similar program in Bonaire, where inmates prepare sandwiches for schools. We’re exploring how we can implement something like that here.”

She said such initiatives align with the ministry’s new focus on skills development, rehabilitation, and community contribution, part of a larger “Detention Sector Reform” package set to launch next week.

“This wider umbrella of reform includes the soft components—education, therapy, and skills,” Tackling explained. “We’re not only building walls; we’re building people.”

Addressing Mental Health and Care Gaps

Tackling acknowledged that mental health therapy in the prison had been temporarily disrupted due to outstanding payments to care providers.

“That’s high on my priority list,” she said. “We’re working with those organizations to settle the balances and enter into payment arrangements.”

She added that funding has already been secured to bring in professionals to assess care needs and help tailor future rehabilitation services.

“Every inmate has different needs,” Tackling said. “Our baseline study will tell us what kind of care and support systems we need to put in place.”

Balancing Justice and Capacity

While acknowledging that limited cell space has strained the system, Tackling said her goal is to restore credibility to the justice chain by ensuring that every offense—big or small—has consequences.

“Ideally, every action should have a response,” she said. “Even a night in a police cell can encourage better compliance. But to do that, we need capacity and resources.”