Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell attended the opening of the seventieth session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at United Nations Headquarters in New York on Monday. The two-week session, which runs through 19 March, brings together government representatives, international organizations and civil society to discuss progress and challenges in advancing gender equality worldwide. This year’s session focuses on the priority theme “Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls,” with discussions addressing the promotion of inclusive and equitable legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws, and the removal of structural barriers that [...]

An introductory meeting earlier this year between Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell and H.E. Dren Doli, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has resulted in a positive cultural and educational opportunity for a student from Sint Maarten. As a direct outcome of the diplomatic engagement earlier in the year, the Sint Maarten Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (MECYS) will coordinate along with the cabinet Minister Plenipotentiary to facilitate the participation of a student in the University of Prishtina program, “Learn Together. Experience Prishtina. Build Connections.” Prishtina International Summer University 2026 The University of [...]

On Friday March 6, Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell represented Sint Maarten during the first meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers (Rijksministerraad) under the newly sworn-in Dutch Cabinet. The meeting also marked several firsts within the Kingdom. Errold Bishop participated for the first time as Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao, while Mildred Schwengle attended her first meeting as the newly appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba in the Netherlands. The Kingdom Council of Ministers brings together the Dutch Cabinet and the Ministers Plenipotentiary of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten to discuss matters affecting the Kingdom as a whole, including international relations, [...]

Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell attended a farewell ceremony for the former Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations Frank Rijkaart and former Dutch State Secretary for Digitalization and Kingdom Relations Eddie van Marum. As a gesture of appreciation for their cooperation and their engagement with Sint Maarten and the wider Caribbean part of the Kingdom, Arrindell presented both dignitaries with copies of the booklet ‘Salt Reapers’: the story of the Salt Industry on Sint Maarten. By sharing the publication, Arrindell underscored the value of sharing Sint Maarten’s heritage and history with partners in the Kingdom. “I appreciated the Minister and [...]

On February 20, Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell held a digital meeting with Dr. Julia Dahlvik, sociologist and researcher at the University of Applied Sciences FH Campus Vienna. The conversation focused on the history and establishment of the Ombudsman institution in Sint Maarten. Drawing on her experience as a former Island Council Member, Minister Arrindell reflected on the early discussions, motivations and legislative developments that led to the creation of the Ombudsman. Dr. Dahlvik is currently leading a comparative research project examining access to administrative justice and the role of ombud institutions across different jurisdictions. Sint Maarten forms [...]