St. Maarten joins kingdom partners in The Hague for crisis preparedness week

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten joined crisis-management colleagues from across the Kingdom in The Hague from June 1 to June 4 for the 7th Week of Crisis Management for the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, a four-day program focused on strengthening preparation, cooperation and response during major crises.

More than 60 crisis-management professionals from Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba took part in the week, together with representatives of various ministries and partner organizations. The program was organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Ministry of Justice and Security.

The week focused on improving coordination among crisis partners across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and the European Netherlands. Participants exchanged knowledge and experiences, worked on current crisis-management issues and took part in a joint crisis-control exercise aimed at improving cooperation during an actual or imminent crisis.

The program opened with the theme “local resilience as the key to resilient cooperation,” underscoring the importance of strong local systems as the foundation for wider Kingdom cooperation. Participants then worked together on recommendations related to crisis-management capacity.

A key part of the week was a joint crisis-management drill held on Tuesday, June 2. The exercise included a Tropical Cyclone Briefing based on a fictional hurricane named Lucas. The scenario allowed participants to practice how information is shared, how decisions are coordinated and how partners respond when a major storm threatens the Caribbean islands.

The exercise is particularly relevant for St. Maarten, where hurricane preparedness remains a central part of national crisis planning. The island’s experience with major storms has repeatedly shown the importance of timely coordination, clear communication, operational readiness and cooperation between local and Kingdom partners.

Participants also received an explanation from the Urban Search and Rescue Team, USAR.NL, on Hurricane Relief Capacity and the role such support can play after a major disaster. This included attention to how specialized rescue and relief capacity can support islands when local systems are under pressure following a severe event.

On Wednesday, June 3, participants visited the National Tactical Command of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. There, they received information on the role of the Marechaussee in the Caribbean and the tasks it can perform during crises. The visit also provided participants with a broader understanding of how security, border and operational coordination can factor into crisis response.

The final day of the program focused on cyber resilience, a growing concern for governments and public services throughout the Kingdom. The inclusion of cyber resilience reflects the changing nature of crisis preparation, where natural disasters, digital disruptions and security risks increasingly require coordinated planning and response.

Throughout the week, participants also held working sessions on current issues, including strategic stocks, preparedness measures and professional standards. According to the organizers, participants provided input for plans and actions related to strategic stockpiles, which will be further developed in the coming period.

The participating crisis partners also agreed to work toward a common standard for professional competence. This is intended to support a more consistent level of preparation, training and operational understanding among crisis-management professionals across the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.

For St. Maarten, participation in the week forms part of the broader effort to strengthen disaster readiness and improve coordination with regional and Kingdom partners. The program offered an opportunity to share the island’s perspective, learn from other islands and partner agencies, and contribute to practical planning for future crises.

The 7th Week of Crisis Management concluded with participants expressing satisfaction with the discussions and exercises. Cooperation and preparation remained the central themes throughout the week, with the shared understanding that crises require strong local capacity, clear lines of communication and reliable cooperation across the Kingdom.

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