THE HAGUE – The Kingdom of the Netherlands has decided to extend its supervisory framework over the execution of government tasks in Sint Maarten, citing unfinished reforms in key sectors such as law enforcement, border control and detention management.
At the same time, Curaçao will be formally removed from the same framework, as the arrangement has barely been used on the island in practice.
The decision concerns the so-called cooperation arrangement, a Kingdom mechanism that requires countries to implement action plans when essential government functions fall below acceptable standards. For St. Maarten, several of those action plans remain active, prompting the Kingdom Council of Ministers to continue supervision until at least October 2026.
The Kingdom has been involved in St. Maarten’s governance and institutional reform process for years, particularly following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017.
Financial assistance for reconstruction after the hurricane was tied to structural reforms and oversight, including through international frameworks and Dutch-backed support mechanisms.
One of the most persistent areas of concern has been the Point Blanche prison, which has repeatedly faced criticism over poor detention conditions, overcrowding and security shortcomings. The Kingdom has also maintained pressure on issues related to government integrity, police organization and border security.
According to Dutch authorities, these unfinished reforms justify maintaining the supervisory mechanism for St. Maarten.
For Curaçao, however, the situation has evolved differently.
Although Curaçao was formally covered under the same cooperation arrangement, Dutch authorities acknowledged that the mechanism has rarely been visibly applied there in recent years. Unlike St. Maarten, Curaçao has not faced active intervention or mandatory action plans under Kingdom supervision through this framework.
By removing Curaçao from the arrangement, the Kingdom is effectively formalizing what has already been the practical reality.
The decision could be interpreted as recognition that Curaçao’s governance challenges are currently being addressed through other channels, including financial supervision, reform agreements and existing institutional cooperation with the Netherlands.
The extension of the supervisory framework for St. Maarten will now be submitted to both the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives for approval. The measure is expected to remain in force through October 2026 while reforms continue.