Real Walls
MP Egbert Doran made valid points about the provision of affordable and or social housing in St. Maarten. And while housing has been on the radar of the current Minister, thus far there have only been blips on the radar, no solid targets. Access to affordable housing is one of the clearest tests of whether a government is building for its people. Across the Caribbean, small islands are racing to meet growing housing demands, yet St. Maarten remains notably behind.
For years, no new public or social homes have been built, even as the population expands dramatically and young professionals return home to find the cost of living and the scarcity of housing working against them.
The Minister of VROMI recently mentioned an allocation of about 18 million guilders for property and hinted again at a long-promised housing policy. Both are welcome signals, but signals alone cannot house families. The public would welcome a clear plan, timelines and visible groundwork.
On the Dutch Caribbean front, the trio of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are implementing a policy agenda targeting new affordable homes and reduced housing costs. For example, in January 2024 a government progress report noted that on Bonaire alone a target of 2,125 new affordable homes up to 2030 had been signed into an agreement, with 445 already under construction.
Dominica has advanced an ambitious housing agenda under its Future Housing Program. It targets working-class citizens (initially under age 45) with modern, climate-resilient homes via subsidised land acquisition and low-interest loans. Barbados is actively advancing housing supply, with recent government hand-overs: for example, on May 25 2025 the government announced a contract to build 500 additional homes, including 89 new units at Clifden, St Philip North. St. Kitts & Nevis has launched a series of initiatives under the banner of climate-smart, affordable housing. Recent figures: over 183 homes handed over under the “Climate-Smart Housing Project” by July 2025, while 79 additional homes are under construction. The target is approx. 2,400 homes over six years (600 annually).
A modern housing strategy for St. Maarten should include fair-rate rentals, rent-to-own options, and subsidies that help first-time buyers overcome the barriers of land cost and financing. It must also commit to publishing clear targets, how many units, where, and by when, so the public can hold decision-makers accountable.
The housing deficit is not just a social issue; it is an economic one. Without homes, the workforce becomes unstable, emigration increases, and young families struggle to build roots. A fair housing policy is, at its core, nation-building policy. St. Maarten does not need another promise of homes, it needs homes. Real walls, real roofs, and real security for the people who make the country run.