State Secretary Eddie van Marum to Visit Sint Maarten as Part of First CAS Working Trip

GREAT BAY--State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum will pay his first working visit to St. Maarten, Aruba and Curacao from August 10 to 15, with St. Maarten being the first stop on his itinerary. Despite a limited term before a new cabinet takes office, Van Marum is focused on strengthening the economic resilience of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom.

During his visit, Van Marum aims to connect with government officials, organizations and residents to better understand shared challenges and opportunities for collaboration. “During this visit, I will discuss topics that affect us all, such as food security, reconstruction on Sint Maarten and economic development in the region. I look forward to the meetings and to good cooperation within the Kingdom,” he said ahead of his trip.

Van Marum’s working visit to Sint Maarten begins Sunday, August 10, with a tour of both the Dutch and French sides of the island. He will also meet with the teams at the Netherlands Representation Office in Philipsburg and the Temporary Work Organization.

On Monday, August 11, the formal program continues with meetings with Governor Ajamu Baly, Prime Minister Luc Mercelina, the Council of Ministers, and President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams. The State Secretary will dedicate the afternoon to reviewing crisis management measures in preparation for the hurricane season, as well as post-Irma and Maria reconstruction efforts. He will be accompanied by partners from the National Recovery and Program Bureau (NRPB) on site visits to major recovery projects, including the new hospital building and the Emergency Debris Management Project.

Additionally, Van Marum will be briefed on the Enterprise Support Project, which aims to stimulate local small and medium-sized businesses. His visit concludes with a meeting focused on law enforcement cooperation, which will include discussions with Sint Maarten’s Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling.

It has not yet been confirmed when Van Marum will travel to Bonaire, St. Eustatius or Saba.

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