Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, Ruben Brekelmans, St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Stuart Johnson and Carol Voges, director of the Minister Plenipotentiary’s cabinet.
THE HAGUE--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina recently paid a courtesy visit to Dutch Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans at the Defence Ministry in The Hague to discuss deepening collaboration between the countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly in the areas of crisis preparedness, defence training, and Coast Guard operations.
The St. Maarten delegation included Mercelina, St. Maarten Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Stuart Johnson and Carol Voges, director of the Minister Plenipotentiary’s cabinet.
Mercelina presented Brekelmans with a book that highlights the rich history and resilience of the people of St. Maarten. “Our meeting … reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the Kingdom’s preparedness and response mechanisms across all countries,” said Mercelina. “Minister Brekelmans’ openness to engage directly with St. Maarten is a welcome signal that dialogue and joint planning are the way forward for our Kingdom.”
One of the agenda points was the proposal for a Kingdom Crisis Plan. Mercelina reaffirmed his support for this initiative, referencing Brekelmans’ recent visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
“I fully endorse the idea of a unified Kingdom Crisis Plan,” said Mercelina. “The realities of our region – from climate vulnerability to geopolitical risks – demand a coordinated and inclusive approach. I look forward to hearing more about the status of this process and St. Maarten’s active role within it.”
The meeting also touched on the possibility of military training opportunities being introduced for the people of St. Maarten, an opportunity already available in Aruba and Curaçao.
“We must ensure that young people in St. Maarten have equal access to the same defence education opportunities as their peers in other parts of the Kingdom,” Mercelina emphasised. “Local training would not only empower our youth, but also strengthen local capacity.”
A third focal point was the strengthening of the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard, particularly in enhancing recruitment and retention of personnel from St. Maarten. “I encourage the Ministry of Defence to explore more active recruitment campaigns on St. Maarten and to offer greater long-term career perspectives for our Coast Guard officers,” Mercelina said. “It is crucial that those who dedicate themselves to safeguarding our maritime borders feel supported and see a future within the service.”
The visit marks a pivotal step in fostering greater equity, visibility, and inclusion of St. Maarten in Kingdom-level security and defence matters.
