Over 315,000 archived public records scanned as Government advances paperless approach
PHILIPSBURG — (September 29, 2026) The Government of Sint Maarten has completed the production phase of its public records digitization initiative, with over 315,206 Archived Public Records (APRs) successfully scanned. The initiative forms part of the Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP), which aims to modernize government services, improve access to information, and safeguard critical national documents for future generations.
Honorable Prime Minister of St. Maarten Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina emphasized the broader importance of safeguarding public records and preserving the country’s documentary history:
“Public records are more than documents. They preserve our country’s history and help people establish their rights and access essential services. Safeguarding them is a responsibility we owe to this generation and the next. This milestone strengthens our ability to protect that history while building a more resilient and responsive government for Sint Maarten.”
Digitization offers many benefits, including increased efficiency, easier collaboration, and enhanced accessibility.
By converting physical documents into secure digital files, the Government of Sint Maarten can reduce its reliance on physical storage facilities, lowering storage costs while freeing valuable office space for other government uses.
The Civil Registry Department and the Department of Records Management (DIV) successfully carried out the digitization work in partnership with the Government’s Digital Leadership Team (DLT). DIV has completed its quality control and acceptance activities, and the contracted production phase has now been formally completed.
The Head of ICT for the Government of Sint Maarten and Project Leader of the Digital Leadership Team (DLT), Femi Badejo, proudly emphasized the importance of the initiative to the continued resilience of government operations. “This remains a necessary investment in the modernization and resilience of government operations. The paperless approach was implemented according to international standards, with the assistance of our international partner, Novian Technologies and with the successful completion of the contract.”
Novian Technologies has completed the official handover process to the Department of Records Management (DIV). As the project progresses, the digitized records will be imported into the Government’s Document Management System, where they can be managed and accessed as part of the Government’s broader digital records environment.
For Stanley Mourillon, DLT Work-Stream Project Manager for the Digitization of Records initiative, the completion of the scanning phase represents the beginning of a longer-term opportunity to establish digitization as a permanent government capability. “For me, this project was never only about reaching a number or completing a scanning exercise. It was about creating the blueprint for something bigger,” said Mourillon. “We now have an opportunity to build on what has been established and make digitization a permanent capability within Government.”
“I see the Digitization Center becoming part of the Government ecosystem, with a streamlined function that can support ministries in digitizing their existing paper archives and preserving historical records. We have built the foundation to preserve our past, manage our present, and prepare Government for a more digital future.”
As part of the transition, staff of the Department of Records Management (DIV) participated in a theoretical and practical training session. The on-site training at the Digitization Center is scheduled to take place from September 28–30, 2026.
The three-day training combines a theoretical introduction, practical demonstrations, hands-on exercises using the XSCAN system and scanning equipment, and final knowledge consolidation. The main objective is to ensure that participants understand the complete digitization workflow and can independently process a batch of records from scanning through quality control.
This training is an important step in establishing the knowledge and capacity needed to maintain digitization activities beyond the current project.
The strategic measures under the Digital Government Transformation Project also address risks posed by natural disasters in the Caribbean region. Hurricanes, flooding, and other disasters can damage infrastructure and potentially destroy irreplaceable documents.
By transitioning government records from hard copies to secure digital files, the Government of Sint Maarten is taking proactive steps to preserve confidential government files and strengthen the resilience of public administration.
The Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP) is led by the Government’s Digital Leadership Team (DLT) and implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten.
The project is funded through a US$12 million grant from the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.
