On Monday the Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams held a meeting with the Kingdom Minister of Defense Hans Hillen regarding numerous aspects related to safety and defense on the island. One of the focal points of the meeting was centered on the establishment of the Marine Base on the island. "The meeting with Minister Hillen was in his capacity as Kingdom Minister for defense. Defense is one of the few areas which is a Kingdom responsibility and as such Mr. Hillen and his Ministry is responsible for that matter. However in the case of St. Maarten, as well as the other countries within the Kingdom, there is also a national ministry which coordinates defense matters and this part falls under my ministry; the Ministry of General Affairs. So keeping this in mind one of the things Minister Hillen wanted to specifically talk about was the establishment of a Marine Base on St. Maarten. Again if you look at the other countries there is a base both on Curacao and on Aruba." Commented the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister stated that the establishment of such a base in St. Maarten is important when one takes into account the protection and defense mission of the marines. "In cases of disasters St. Maarten would previously have had to request the deployment of Marines for assistance all the way to the Minister of Defense in Netherlands via the Governor after which the Marines would be able to be deployed if necessary. Having such an establishment on St. Maarten will assist that procedure and will ensure that we have a faster deployment in the event of a Hurricane for example," continued the Prime Minister.
The PM also stressed that having a Marine Base on St. Maarten will also have an economic impulse by having a contingent of Marine Officer stationed on the island at a location to be determined full time, with rotating groups coming in frequently.
"What is also important is that we could and will have as part of the Marine Base on St. Maarten a social formation program for young local people. The Marines on the island would be instrumental in taking care of the program which would also be an important aspect of the Marine Base here. So if we look at an economic aspect, safety and defense aspect, and a social formation project we are in agreement with the Minister in having such a base come to St. Maarten," concluded the Prime Minister.
From the Cabinet of the Prime Minister
