PHILIPSBURG:--- Comprehensive environmental and community protection measures have been established as construction begins at the Sister Marie Laurence School site under the Trust Fund’s Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP). The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) has established clear safeguards to ensure that works are carried out safely and responsibly, with minimal disruption to surrounding residents. The contractor, Steel Structures T&T Ltd, has begun mobilization. Most of the construction activities, such as foundation and substructure work, are expected to take place in the summer months.
FRLP operates under an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), which guides the identification and management of environmental and social risks. These safeguarding measures address matters such as traffic control, dust and noise mitigation, worker conduct, and site safety. All contractors are required to prepare a Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan (CESMP) or Management Strategies and Implementation Plans (MSIPs). The plan must describe how contractors and subcontractors will comply with the project’s environmental and social commitments outlined in the ESMF to ensure that these standards are adhered to throughout project implementation.
Construction activity will differ from the demolition phase. Residents can expect periodic deliveries of construction materials and the mobilization of heavy equipment. Road users may experience partial road closures and occasional traffic delays, which will be communicated in advance. A Traffic Management Plan is currently being updated to support traffic flow and reduce disruption during works, with coordination planned with Community Police and the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI).
Users of the Middle Region playground and basketball court can expect restrictions on access, particularly during working hours. Safety barriers and signage will be installed to prevent trespassing onto the construction site, and users are requested to observe all safety precautions and public announcements about these restrictions.
Stakeholder engagement is also ongoing; three rounds of public consultations have been previously held, along with direct engagement with nearby residents, parents, teachers, and the Catholic School Board, (the governing body of Sister Marie Laurence School). Residents are encouraged to participate in upcoming stakeholder sessions for updates and feedback and to stay informed through regular updates at www.nrpbsxm.org/frlp and via the NRPB social media pages. Feedback, questions and queries can be sent via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) remains available for formal complaints related to NRPB projects including FRLP. The GRM provides a structured process for submitting and handling complaints. No complaints were recorded during the demolition phase of SML. More information is available at https://nrpbsxm.org/complaints-procedure/.
FRLP is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport. The project is funded by the Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands, and administered by the World Bank.