Sint Maarten, represented by Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, has signed the StormWatch Initiative on Disaster Risk Management, marking a significant step forward in strengthening resilience across the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). The signing took place during the 21st European Union EU-OCT Forum in Aruba, where Minister Arrindell signed on behalf of all Caribbean OCTs in Sint Maarten’s capacity as Regional Authorizing Officer of the RESEMBID Programme. The StormWatch Initiative represents a €3 million regional project aimed at enhancing disaster preparedness, coordination, and response mechanisms across the region. The initiative reflects a shared commitment among Caribbean [...]

On April 13th, 2026, the Sint Maarten delegation led by Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell met with Ambassador Fiona Ramsey of the European Union (EU) delegation to Barbados, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, together with members of her delegation in the margins of the European Union-Overseas Countries and Territories EU-OCT Forum held in Aruba. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and advancing shared priorities, including maritime and digital connectivity, renewable energy, disaster risk reduction, and sargassum management. The EU delegation highlighted upcoming internal restructuring efforts, including additional staffing and dedicated support for Overseas Countries and Territories, aimed at [...]

The delegation of the European Union (EU) headed by EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, and the delegation of the Netherlands, led by Minister for Kingdom Relations, Erik van der Burg, together with representatives of the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), convened for a high-level meeting to reinforce cooperation and address shared strategic priorities. The delegation of Sint Maarten was headed by the Minister Plenipotentiary, Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell. During the discussions, the European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the OCTs, highlighting a doubling of the OCT financial envelope to support, among others, sustainable development, digital and [...]

The Government of Sint Maarten participated in the 21st Overseas Countries and Territories–European Union (EU-OCT) Forum held in Aruba, where leaders from across the OCTs, European Union institutions including the European Commission and Parliament, and the European Member States, Denmark, France and the Netherlands, convened to strengthen cooperation and define a shared strategic path forward. Representing Sint Maarten, Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell underscored that while OCTs are increasingly recognized as strategic outposts of the European Union, this recognition must now be translated into concrete and tangible action, particularly in light of growing geopolitical uncertainty. A central message from Sint Maarten [...]

On Thursday, April 9, the Sint Maarten delegation, headed by Minister Plenipotentiary Gracita R. Arrindell, participated in a trilateral meeting with representatives of the Netherlands and the European Commission in Aruba, held on the margins of the EU-OCT Forum. The meeting focused on accountability and forward planning, including a review of ongoing EU-funded projects and the identification of future cooperation priorities and strategic investments. These discussions are particularly timely, as they will help inform the European Union’s upcoming long-term budget cycle set to begin in 2028. Participants underscored the importance of strengthened collaboration amid a period of global uncertainty [...]