Justice Ministry to add 16 temporary detention spaces at Foreign Detention Center

GREAT BAY--The Ministry of Justice plans to create temporary detention space for up to 16 low-risk detainees at the Foreign Detention Center in Simpson Bay, as St. Maarten continues to deal with capacity constraints while the new Point Blanche Prison is under construction.

The project will involve upgrades to a currently unused section of the Foreign Detention Center and forms part of the Ministry’s wider Detention Sector Reform Program. The work was formalized through an amendment expanding the St. Maarten Rule of Law Facilities Project under the existing agreement between the governments of St. Maarten and the Netherlands and the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS.

A preliminary technical assessment identified the Simpson Bay facility as the most feasible and time-efficient option for providing additional short-term detention capacity. The project is expected to take approximately nine months from approval by all parties to final handover.

According to the Ministry, the additional low-security accommodation is intended to ease existing detention capacity constraints, support the work of prosecutors and the courts, and reduce risks associated with overcrowding.

The arrangement will remain temporary. Once the additional space is no longer required for prison detention, the upgraded section will be returned to the Immigration Service for immigration-related detention. The infrastructure improvements will remain in place and support the facility’s longer-term use.

Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling said the project provides a practical response to current detention needs while construction of the new Point Blanche Prison continues.

“While construction of the new Point Blanche Prison is progressing, we also have to address the realities facing our detention system today. By adapting a currently unused section of the FDC, we will create additional temporary capacity without interrupting the facility’s ongoing use for immigration detention. This gives us a practical temporary solution while we continue working toward the long-term reforms already in motion. Importantly, the investment is not temporary, the upgrades will remain and ultimately strengthen the FDC’s infrastructure for its continued use by Immigration.”

UNOPS will oversee the design, procurement and execution of the upgrades. The work will focus on improving safety, functionality and detention conditions and will be guided by national regulations and applicable international detention standards, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, commonly known as the Nelson Mandela Rules.

“Supporting Caribbean governments in strengthening their justice systems means helping turn national priorities into facilities and services that uphold human dignity and enable institutions to fulfil their responsibilities. In St. Maarten, UNOPS is supporting the Ministry of Justice in addressing immediate detention needs while building capacity for the future,” said Giuseppe Mancinelli, UNOPS Barbados Country Director and Caribbean Coordinator.

Preparations will also include procedures for managing and maintaining the facility. The Government of St. Maarten will provide the custodial personnel required for the additional detention section to become operational once the upgrades have been completed.

‍