After five days of intense training and debate, it was adopted last Friday in Philipsburg, Sint Maarten; “The Sint Maarten Action Plan for Heritage Disaster Risk Management Strategy for the Tangible and Intangible Heritage of Sint Maarten”. A document outlining the major strategic objective, scope, task group and target of government departments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), private, and civic society agencies on the protection of heritage through risk reduction.

The experts gathered at the national meeting for the discussion and approval of the plan endorsed as priority lines of intervention, the conservation and heritage management, the preparation of individual risk preparedness plans for heritage sites , the management of risks associated with the effects of climate change, the participation of the community in the conservation, protection and management of heritage sites, the promotion of sustainable tourism, the capacity building and the development of cooperation networks.

As a result of the exchanges, it was agreed to include legislative actions such as:

1. Submission of an amendment to the National Ordinance Disaster Risk Management legislation to include cultural and natural heritage as part of the National Disaster Risk Management;
2. Submission of a review of the Monument Legislation and amendment to designate Philipsburg as a Historical Cultural Landscape;
3. Creating (the department of Culture) a policy that will introduce a general Heritage Disaster Risk Management Plan by which the different heritage agencies should introduce and execute their own individual plans;
4. Ensuring that there is a national inventory of all cultural heritage articles/artifacts from the various agencies;
5. Re-establishing a Monument Fund in order for monument owners to be legally bound to insure monuments, heritage articles/artifacts and movable objects;

6.Establishing a clear protocol on the communication procedure and responsibilities of each agency before, during and after a disaster in order to ensure the identification, handling and protection of heritage articles;

7.Designating the Inspectorate Department of the ECYS to monitor and/or enforce the policies of the Culture Department pertaining to the Heritage Disaster Risk Management Plan;

It was also agreed on to promote joint working among institutions such as the: Culture Department, Sint Maarten, National Heritage Foundation and Museum, Sint Maarten Archeological Center,VROMI,Monuments Council, Archives Department (DIV), Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) for underwater cultural heritage to protect the national heritage through risk reduction and prevention and above all creating public awareness.

The Risk Preparedness training workshop was attended by the Department of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports (ECYS), Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Archives Department (DIV) of the Ministry of General Affairs, The Monuments Council, The Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation and Museum, Sint Maarten Archaeological Center (SIMARC), and the Sint Maarten National Commission for United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The meeting was organized by the Department of Culture, as part of its 2015 Department plan.