Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling has outlined a comprehensive, multi-layered approach to tackling youth crime in St. Maarten, focusing on prevention, rehabilitation, and enforcement.
Speaking in Parliament, the Minister emphasized coordinated efforts between police, schools, and social services, highlighting the role of the KPSM Youth and Moral Division in assessing cases and applying targeted interventions.
Community Police Officers and School Resource Officers are actively engaged in schools and districts, leading initiatives such as anonymous reporting systems, anti-crime campaigns, and direct responses to incidents. Several youth-focused programmes are also underway, including therapy, skills training, and early intervention projects targeting at-risk behavior.
The Ministry is also advancing plans for a Care and Safety House, aimed at improving coordination between health, education, and justice sectors, while participating in regional initiatives to reduce youth gun violence.
Tackling stressed that these efforts are backed by legal reforms to strengthen juvenile justice systems and ensure long-term effectiveness.
The Minister concluded by calling for collective responsibility, stating that investing in young people remains critical to the country’s future safety and stability.