PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – The Ministry of Justice has recruited 22 new correctional officers as part of its ongoing efforts to address longstanding staffing shortages and strengthen Sint Maarten’s correctional workforce. The new recruits began induction training on October 19, 2026, which will continue through November. The recruitment and training form part of the broader Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP), supporting efforts to prepare personnel for the opening of the new prison facility and build a safer, more professional correctional system.
The recruitment process began with a targeted campaign launched in June 2026 to attract qualified candidates and promote a better understanding of the correctional profession. Ahead of the campaign, focus group discussions with members of the public, prospective applicants, serving correctional officers and other stakeholders helped shape the recruitment approach. The campaign attracted 111 applications by July 10, 2026, with candidates subsequently undergoing a multi-stage selection process that resulted in the 22 new recruits.
“For years, staff shortages have placed significant pressure on our prison system, and addressing this remains an important priority. Alongside the training and development of our existing staff, we are now bringing in new officers to help ease that pressure and build the workforce needed for the future. As we prepare for the new prison, our investment in infrastructure must go hand in hand with investment in our people. We are proud that this recruitment effort has allowed us to bring in new officers from our own community, creating opportunities for local talent to contribute to our detention system. The 111 applications received are encouraging and show that our community is ready to be part of building a stronger, safer and more professional prison system,” said Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling.
“These new officers will provide much-needed reinforcement to our daily operations at a particularly critical time. With construction of the new prison taking place around our existing facility by UNOPS, we must maintain safety and security while ensuring that programs and activities for prisoners can continue. Strengthening our workforce will help us manage these demands and create more opportunities for prisoners to participate in constructive activities,” said Steven Carty, Director of Point Blanche Prison.
The induction training is designed to equip new officers with the knowledge, skills and professional standards required to carry out their duties responsibly and effectively. Training covers correctional practice, prison security, communication, professional ethics, human rights, incident management, first aid, mental health awareness, suicide and self-harm prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration, and the appropriate use of authority and force.
Particular emphasis is placed on international standards for prison management, including the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules), while taking into account Sint Maarten’s local context.
The induction program is supported through a collaborative effort involving UNODC, Point Blanche Prison, international corrections experts, regional partners from Curaçao, and national specialized professionals. Through this effort, the Ministry of Justice and its partners are working towards a correctional system that places professional management, safety, security, respect for human rights, and successful reintegration at the center of its operations.
This training is delivered under the Detention Sector Reform Program (DSRP), co-funded by the Ministry of Justice of Sint Maarten and the Government of the Netherlands, and implemented through a partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
