Minister Tackling, UNODC sign €3.8M Rehabilitation program for St. Maarten inmates

GREAT BAY--A four-year, €3.8 million prison reform initiative in is place following the signing of a landmark agreement between the Ministry of Justice and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Known as ADVANCE-SXM, the program aims to overhaul inmate rehabilitation, staff training, and operational systems at the Point Blanche Prison while preparations for a new long-term detention facility continue.

The agreement was signed on Thursday, July 31, 2025, and marks a critical step in the Ministry’s broader efforts to create a fairer and more effective justice system, one grounded in the rule of law, professional enforcement, and public trust. ADVANCE-SXM is designed to provide structured rehabilitation and reintegration programs for inmates, enhance staff capacity, and prepare the institution for the transition to the new prison facility scheduled to begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling described the agreement as a turning point for the country’s justice system, reinforcing her commitment to begin real rehabilitation now, not years from now. “We cannot afford to wait for a building to begin restoring dignity, structure, and opportunity within our justice system. Our focus is on strengthening the Ministry from within, starting now,” she said.

Led by UNODC in close coordination with the Ministry and Point Blanche Prison management, ADVANCE-SXM will introduce rehabilitation pathways that include education, vocational training, remunerated work opportunities, and mental health support. Each inmate will follow a dedicated roadmap aimed at preparing them for reentry into society, with a clear focus on reducing recidivism and promoting safer communities.

For prison staff, the program offers a full training and development plan to boost professionalism, morale, and long-term retention. Institutional policies, procedures, and codes of conduct will be revised and standardized, and oversight mechanisms will be introduced to ensure compliance and accountability.

In parallel, the Ministry will work with UNODC and local stakeholders to test operational processes, create a staffing transition plan, and identify further equipment and training needs in preparation for the new facility.

ADVANCE-SXM is more than a project. It is a commitment to the people of Sint Maarten—the officers who serve, the inmates working toward a second chance, and the public who deserve a justice system built on fairness, integrity, and accountability.

“This is how we restore confidence in the system,” said Minister Tackling. “By making smart, structured investments in people and policy today, we lay the foundation for a justice system that is safer, stronger, and more humane for generations to come.”

As physical construction of the new Point Blanche facility moves forward, the Ministry has ensured that operational readiness and human capacity will not be left behind. The ADVANCE-SXM initiative represents a coordinated shift toward a professional and balanced justice system, investing in both infrastructure and the people who make it work.

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