Environmental and community protections in place at Sister Marie Laurence School construction site

GREAT BAY--The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) has announced that environmental and community protection measures are in place as construction begins at the Sister Marie Laurence School site under the Trust Fund’s Fostering Resilient Learning Project (FRLP).

According to the NRPB, clear safeguards have been established to ensure that construction works are carried out safely, responsibly and with minimal disruption to surrounding residents. The contractor, Steel Structures T&T Ltd., has begun mobilization at the site. Most construction activities, including foundation and substructure work, are expected to take place during the summer months.

The FRLP operates under an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), which guides how environmental and social risks are identified and managed. The safeguards cover areas such as traffic control, dust and noise mitigation, worker conduct, and site safety.

All contractors working under the project are required to prepare a Contractor’s Environmental Management Plan (CESMP) or Management Strategies and Implementation Plans (MSIPs). These plans must describe how contractors and subcontractors will comply with the environmental and social commitments outlined in the ESMF. The purpose is to ensure that required standards are followed throughout the implementation of the project.

The NRPB said the construction phase 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 the works. Coordination is also 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 also expect restrictions on access, particularly during working hours. Safety barriers and signage will be installed to prevent trespassing onto the construction site. Users are asked to observe all safety precautions and public announcements related to these restrictions.

Stakeholder engagement is ongoing. The NRPB said three rounds of public consultations have already been 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. They are also encouraged to stay informed through regular updates at www.nrpbsxm.org/frlp and through the NRPB’s social media pages.

Feedback, questions and queries can be submitted by email to frlp@nrpbsxm.org.

The Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) remains available for formal complaints related to NRPB projects, including the FRLP. The GRM provides a structured process for submitting and handling complaints. The NRPB said no complaints were recorded during the demolition phase of Sister Marie Laurence School.

More information on the complaints procedure is available at https://nrpbsxm.org/complaints-procedure/.

The Fostering Resilient Learning Project is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of St. 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.

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