Official Press Release Progress Despite Crisis Point Blanche Prison St Maarten Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling
๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐: ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ญ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ โ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
Philipsburg, St. Maarten โ June 10, 2025Minister of Justice Nathalie M. Tackling continues to push forward, delivering reforms even as challenges persist. Despite the ongoing crisis at Point Blanche Prison, the Ministry actively strengthens institutions, advances cooperation, and implements tangible improvements that benefit all citizens.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฌ
Minister Tackling currently leads high-level discussions in the Netherlands. She met with Mr. Guus Schram of the Prosecutors General Board to enhance justice cooperation and address critical gaps in investigative and prosecutorial capacity.
Their dialogue also outlined plans for an expert roundtable with Dutch-Caribbean justice leaders later this year.
๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฒ
In meetings with police officials Ronald Baarends, Erik de Vries, and Marius Noort, Minister Tackling highlighted rising gun crime and limited investigative reach. These discussions underscored the urgency of collaborative intervention.
As a result, all parties agreed to bolster the OSLAC framework to disrupt organized crime and reinforce island security.
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐Next, Minister Tackling will meet with the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. She aims to reaffirm the governmentโs commitment to detention reform and compliance with European human rights obligations.
Since 2018, Sint Maarten has remained under international supervision due to poor prison conditions. Through bilateral talks and official debate, she will present concrete progress and embrace continued oversight.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ง
Meanwhile, construction preparations for a new $52 million correctional facility continue. Partnering with UNOPS and the Dutch Government, the Ministry officially launched Phase 2 of the New Prison Project. This effort ensures humane conditions and embeds rehabilitation as a core function. Construction begins this year, with partial operations by 2026.
๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐
In May, Minister Tackling addressed the CFATF Plenary in Trinidad. She acknowledged past shortcomings and committed to bolder steps toward AML/CFT compliance. The Ministry now focuses on stronger enforcement, institutional oversight, and risk-based implementation strategies.
๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ค๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ฒ
Progress continues on legislative workflows. The Ministry has signed and issued Batch 13 of the national ordinances, while Batches 14โ16 move through validation. For the first time, justice staff are engaged early, creating a more efficient and transparent process.
๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Reform also reaches the immigration system. A two-day workshop recently helped define workflows for the upcoming digital platform. This tool will enhance efficiency, transparency, and public confidence across all immigration processes.
๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฒ
Throughout every initiative, the Ministry of Justice remains focused. It continues to act with urgency, determination, and accountability. Despite setbacks, the Ministry delivers progressโnot promisesโthrough partnership, persistence, and public service.—Let me know if you need this tailored for a news outlet, website, or translated into Dutch or French.