An artist's impression of the design of the new Mental Health Care Center.
ST. JOHN’S--Residents’ concerns about privacy, accessibility, safety, and construction impacts have been incorporated into the updated design and plans of the new Mental Health Care Center, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor VSA Richinel Brug announced during a public session at St. Martin’s Home on Tuesday evening.
The session was held to update the public on the design and construction plans for the new facility. Brug said earlier public consultations had significantly influenced the revised plans. “As many of you will recall, earlier this year we conducted a public consultation to ensure that the voices of the community were fully heard during the planning phase of this project. We are pleased to share that your feedback played a meaningful role in shaping the design and direction of the new site,” he said.
Brug said residents had highlighted the need for a safe, welcoming, and community-integrated mental health facility, as well as concerns about privacy, accessibility, and minimizing disruption to nearby homes. “I am happy to report that these concerns have been incorporated into the updated design,” Brug said, pointing to improved landscaping buffers, modified building placement, and enhanced pedestrian access. The design now reflects community input on creating a space that “feels open, supportive, and reflective of St. Maarten’s cultural and social identity.”
National Recovery Programme Bureau (NRPB) Project Manager Francetta Schoe delivered the detailed update at the session. She said NRPB greatly appreciated the constructive feedback shared during its first St. Johns/Saunders community session early September. “The community insights have been used in refining the plans for the new mental health centre.”
At Tuesday’s session the community was updated on how their suggestions and concerns have been incorporated, and what they can expect in the next stages of the project was outlined. NRPB wants to continue the conversation and listen to concerns.
Schoe explained that issues raised and addressed include the Caribbean look and feel of the building, flood risks, safety with fencing and cameras, noise, environmental sustainability, and traffic and parking concerns. The updated plan features three different buildings for different levels of care, designed to feel like a home, remain open and multifunctional, and blend into the surroundings.
Flood protection measures include elevating the building 0.5 meters, installing drains surrounding the lot, repairing and cleaning public drainage, using cisterns to catch water, and applying criteria from the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI 2020 flood study to manage up to one metre of rainfall per hour. Water from cisterns will be used for irrigation, and terrain run-off will be discharged into the public drainage system within 12-24 hours after storms to ensure full capacity for the next rainfall.
Security has been enhanced, with areas restricted according to care level, 24/7 staff presence, three security points, cameras throughout the building, smart door gates, and layered fencing with vegetation separating the site from the street. High-intensity care patients will have their own courtyard for outdoor access. Fifty-five parking spaces will accommodate staff and visitors, while separate entrances manage ambulance and supply traffic to reduce road congestion.
Interior design has been shaped by a community mood board and staff input, and strict regulations will be enforced during construction to minimize disruption. Schoe said local contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers can register with NRPB ahead of procurement starting in January 2026, with bids evaluated in the first and second quarters, and construction expected to begin in summer 2026 and to be complete by summer 2027.
A brochure distributed at the session details the centre's planned services, including daycare, crisis care, house visits, walk-ins (ambulant care), child and adult psychiatry, and short- and long-term stays.
Features include a coffee shop/store, therapeutic kitchen and garden, creative and recreational spaces, family, group, and occupational therapy, a children’s observation room, indoor and outdoor green areas, community education and training spaces, on-site parking and security, and separate private access for client groups.
Caribbean art and culture will be integrated throughout the building, which is designed “as a safe, welcoming, inclusive place for the entire community” rather than an institutional environment.
To minimize inconvenience during construction, the brochure states: “Residents can expect debris and construction waste will be properly collected and disposed, noise, vibration, dust and emissions are kept within legal limits, workers will wear protective gear and equipment, and no work will be done at night.”
An Environmental and Social Management Framework guides these requirements and establishes a code of conduct to ensure contractors maintain the highest standards of professionalism when interacting with the community.
The project is being implemented by NRPB and the VSA Ministry on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten, funded through the St. Maarten Trust Fund financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.
https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/public-concerns-reflected-in-updated-mental-health-care-center-plans-2
