Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina met on Monday afternoon with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof for a constructive discussion on national security, the recent rise in organized crime, and developments in the wider Caribbean region. The meeting served to reinforce cooperation within the Kingdom and to reassure the people of Sint Maarten that all necessary steps are being taken to maintain national security and public safety.
In response to the recent incidents affecting local businesses and both visitors and citizens, including the robberies at Divi Little Bay, Simpson Bay and in Maho, Prime Minister Mercelina in dialogue and collaboration with the Minister of Justice, Ms. Nathalie Tackling, formally requested temporary military assistance from the Netherlands. This is a precautionary measure aimed at strengthening visible security and supporting local law enforcement during this period.
The concerns of Sint Maarten will be brought to the attention of the Dutch Minister of Defense and Minister of Justice.
Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized the government’s commitment to immediate and effective action:
“The safety of our visitors and citizens is our highest priority. We are working closely with the Ministry of Justice, KPSM, and the Dutch Marines to ensure an increased security presence at key locations as quickly as possible. I appreciate the active coordination efforts of Minister Tackling, and the understanding from the Netherlands and in particular Prime Minister Schoof that this is a matter of high urgency for our country.”
The two leaders also discussed regional military activity by the United States in the Caribbean. Prime Minister Schoof reaffirmed that the Netherlands is not involved in these operations and that there is no immediate direct threat to Sint Maarten or the wider Kingdom. All U.S. actions are occurring outside the territorial waters of the Kingdom, and there is no indication that Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten would become involved in any conflict or military escalation.
Following the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Mercelina joined Prime Minister Mike Eman of Aruba and Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas of Curaçao for a regular security briefing with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. David van Weel. The discussion focused on increased tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Minister van Weel again confirmed that, while monitoring continues and standard preparations are in place, there is currently no direct or immediate threat to any of the Dutch Caribbean countries.
Prime Minister Mercelina expressed confidence in the coordinated approach:
“I appreciate the ongoing and transparent communication between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. While we take prudent steps to remain prepared, we want to reassure our community that there is no immediate threat to the Kingdom. Together with our Kingdom partners, we remain united, vigilant, and focused on maintaining safety and stability for our people.”
Source: Government of Sint Maarten https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/PM-Mercelina-meets-with-PM-Schoof-to-address-rising-crime-in-Sint-Maarten-and-regional-security-developments.aspx
