United Nations: highlights Progress in St. Maarten in 2024 Results Report

The United Nations has released its 2024 Annual Results Report for the Dutch Caribbean on Friday, spotlighting the achievements and challenges in Aruba, Curaçao, and St. Maarten across health, education, infrastructure, justice reform, and climate resilience. While all three islands are making strides toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), St. Maarten stands out for its strategic partnerships, infrastructure upgrades, and strong advocacy for small island development issues on the global stage.

The Dutch Caribbean islands continued their collaborative engagement with the United Nations through the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNMSDCF), driving efforts in four core areas: economic resilience, social inclusion, climate adaptation, and rule of law. In 2024, Aruba and Curaçao focused on waste management innovation, education system reform, and trade modernization. Notably, both Aruba and Curaçao advanced public SDG awareness campaigns and digital infrastructure, while Aruba made bold moves in green energy education through its SISSTEM program. Curaçao, meanwhile, prioritized mental health access, SDG monitoring, and refugee support.

𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐧

In 2024, Sint Maarten welcomed the UN Resident Coordinator for the first time, marking a renewed focus on climate change adaptation, citizen security, and youth development. Government officials and development partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank Trust Fund, and the St. Maarten Development Fund, discussed new avenues for financing and technical cooperation to support the island's development priorities.

𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

Throughout 2024, the Ministry of VSA partnered with PAHO/WHO to strengthen the national health system, particularly in tackling chronic noncommunicable diseases. A significant outcome of this partnership was the completion of a National Protocol for the Prevention, Management, and Control of Type 2 Diabetes, developed with the HEARTS-D framework. The protocol integrates physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and insurance providers into a unified system of care, aiming to improve screening, diagnosis, and long-term disease management.

The Ministry also advanced the country’s National Mental Health Plan, with an updated strategy expected at the end of 2025. These efforts form part of a broader push to increase access to inclusive, community-based mental health care and reduce stigma.

Social protection received a major boost through the Child Resilience and Protection Project (CRPP), a $5 million program implemented with UNICEF the Netherlands and the World Bank. The Ministry of VSA played a central role in rolling out resilience-building interventions across schools and community organizations. From psychosocial support and parenting workshops to training educators and developing a national child protection platform, the initiative laid the groundwork for a stronger, more coordinated care system.

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭

St. Maarten’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure also earned praise. In Dutch Quarter, a sanitation and water management project led by UNOPS and funded by the European Commission moved forward in 2024. The upgrades, which include street lighting and sidewalks, are expected to significantly improve quality of life in one of the island’s most underserved communities.

Additionally, UNOPS has targeted the construction of a new correctional facility, representing a shift toward modern, humane justice infrastructure. The project is backed by a $52 million investment and is designed to support rehabilitation, education, and reintegration, reflecting the country’s commitment to upholding human rights and social cohesion.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲

Beyond domestic programs, St. Maarten has also played an active role in shaping the global conversation around small island development. At the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) held in Antigua and Barbuda, the island’s former Minister Plenipotentiary Patrice Gumbs joined leaders from Aruba and Curaçao in highlighting the Caribbean’s shared vulnerabilities and aspirations.

Gumbs also took part in the Island Leaders Summit, where topics like regenerative tourism, digital infrastructure, and climate finance were prioritized. St. Maarten’s chairmanship of the Caribbean Safe Schools Initiative was another standout in the UN report, showcasing the country’s leadership in integrating disaster risk reduction into the education sector, particularly in light of increasing climate threats.

St. Maarten remained a regional leader in disaster preparedness, chairing the Caribbean Safe Schools Initiative (CSSI) and working with UNDRR to expand policies that address extreme heat and other school safety threats. These efforts ensure education systems are better prepared to withstand climate shocks.

𝐀 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

While St. Maarten’s GDP growth slowed slightly to 3.1% in 2024 due to ongoing energy infrastructure constraints, the government forged new agreements with the Netherlands and the World Bank to improve water access and public utilities. Concerns remain around crime, electricity disruptions, and youth unemployment, but new collaborations between local ministries, international partners, and civil society are driving targeted solutions.

The United Nations, in its report, emphasized the importance of continued investment in youth engagement, digital resilience, climate financing, and institutional strengthening. With a renewed commitment to multisectoral collaboration and long-term planning, St. Maarten is positioning itself as a model for sustainable development among small island states.

The entire report is available online: https://caribbean.un.org/en

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