Minister Tackling eyes EU volunteer network to support local rehabilitation framework

GREAT BAY--Tur Cos Ta Posibel (TCTP) Director Claire Brown will be supporting the Ministry of Justice of St. Maarten and its partners by providing access to the group's European Union support and volunteer network, as well as offering guidance on program implementation, screening processes, and the development of rehabilitation initiatives.

As part of ongoing efforts to expand rehabilitation and reintegration options for inmates, the Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling recently convened a meeting with several stakeholders to explore new opportunities in the field. The meeting brought together representatives from the Point Blanche Prison management team, the St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) focal point within the Ministry, and TCTP leadership.

Recognizing current financial and infrastructural constraints in the prison system, the Ministry is focused on identifying external funding sources and technical partnerships that can improve outcomes without adding pressure to the national budget.

TCTP currently operates EU-funded rehabilitation programs in Aruba’s prison system. These programs focus on structured activities such as mural painting, music production, jewelry making, and post-release international volunteer placements. Inmates between the ages of 18 and 30 participate alongside EU volunteers and receive a modest daily stipend of €7. The programs are funded by the European Solidarity Corps and delivered at no cost to local authorities.

To facilitate the potential implementation of similar programs in Sint Maarten, SMDF has been identified as a local partner. SMDF holds the required EU Quality Label for hosting and is pursuing further accreditation to host EU volunteers. This partnership is intended to give Sint Maarten access to EU technical assistance while building local operational capacity.

TCTP’s collaboration with the Ministry is expected to reduce the entry barriers to launching rehabilitation efforts in Sint Maarten and support the development of a more structured and scalable model for inmate reintegration.

This partnership complements, rather than replaces, the Ministry’s work with UNODC. Through that collaboration, the Ministry plans to introduce additional rehabilitation programming based on international standards. The combined approach will draw from both the TCTP model and UNODC frameworks.

According to the Ministry, the aim is to establish a more sustainable and accountable justice system by combining local partnerships with international resources.ion, screening, and program development.

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