THE HAGUE:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina continued his official working visit to the Netherlands on Monday with a series of high-level engagements focused on advancing mental healthcare cooperation and strengthening collaboration within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The day's program included meetings at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS), discussions with Council of State Vice-President, Mr. Sybrand van Haersma Buma, and engagements with the Cabinet of Sint Maarten's Minister Plenipotentiary and Director-General for Kingdom Relations, Barbera Wolfensberger.
At the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, Prime Minister Mercelina met with Herbert Barnard, Director of Healthcare and Youth for the Caribbean Netherlands. Discussions focused on mental healthcare cooperation and opportunities to strengthen services through expertise exchange, institutional partnerships, and continued collaboration to support the development of a new mental health facility that will serve not only Sint Maarten but also Saba and St. Eustatius.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the Sint Maarten Trust Fund is financing the new mental health facility, with support from the World Bank, and that the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) is implementing it. Discussions explored opportunities to strengthen partnerships and knowledge exchange to ensure the facility delivers accessible, quality, and sustainable mental healthcare services for the people of Sint Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius.
"Mental health is an essential component of overall health and wellbeing. Every person deserves access to compassionate, quality care close to home. Through cooperation and the sharing of expertise, we are working to strengthen mental healthcare services and create lasting benefits for current and future generations throughout the region," Prime Minister Mercelina stated.
During his meeting with the Vice-President of the Kingdom Council of State, Mr. Sybrand van Haersma Buma, the Prime Minister exchanged views on developments within the Kingdom and the importance of maintaining constructive dialogue between the countries of the Kingdom. Discussions also touched on preparations for the upcoming Kingdom Summit and opportunities to strengthen cooperation on issues that directly affect citizens throughout the Kingdom, including access to quality education and healthcare, as well as efforts to enhance public safety and security.
Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized that the future of Kingdom cooperation should not rest solely on what the four countries have in common, but should also recognize and build on the unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives each country brings to the Kingdom.
"The Kingdom functions best when we engage openly, listen carefully to one another, and work together to address shared challenges. However, the Kingdom's future should not be based only on our similarities. The Kingdom's strength also lies in our differences and the unique contributions each country brings. Sint Maarten's position is that the countries of the Kingdom should co-own our shared future, not merely be stakeholders in it. The Kingdom Summit provides an important opportunity to discuss how we can strengthen that sense of co-ownership while improving education, healthcare, safety, and opportunities for our citizens," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Engagements with the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary focused on coordination of Sint Maarten's representation in the Netherlands and ensuring continued alignment with the Government's priorities and ongoing initiatives.
A subsequent meeting with Director-General for Kingdom Relations Barbera Wolfensberger allowed the Prime Minister to continue discussions on preparations for the upcoming Kingdom Summit, ongoing cooperation among the Kingdom countries, and progress on the new mental health facility.
Reflecting on the day's engagements, Prime Minister Mercelina emphasized the importance of translating dialogue into tangible outcomes for the people of Sint Maarten.
"Partnerships are valuable when they produce results. Whether we are discussing healthcare or Kingdom cooperation, our guiding question must always be how these efforts contribute to a better future for the people of Sint Maarten. That remains the purpose of every engagement we undertake," the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister is accompanied during the official working visit by Secretary-General Dr. Abel Knottnerus and Chief of Staff Stuart Johnson.
Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita Arrindell participated in relevant engagements throughout the programme.