Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – In an ongoing mission to strengthen the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), the Honorable Minister of VSA Richinel Brug has approved and launched a specialized training program in legislative writing and policy development for VSA personnel initiated by Secretary General Ms. Joy Arnell.
The purpose of this training is to equip staff with the knowledge and practical experience necessary to produce stronger draft legislation and policies, ensuring the Ministry is better positioned to assist and protect the vulnerable groups it serves.
The first sessions of the training took place on Thursday, August 21, 2025, and Friday, August 22, 2025, focusing on legislative writing. The policy development component of the training will continue in October 2025.
This capacity-building initiative is being facilitated by Attorneys at law Mr. Gerald Simmons De Jong and Ms. Valya Pantophlet of DEJONG Legal, who bring expertise and guidance in both legislative processes and policy formulation.
By investing in the professional growth of its staff, the Ministry of VSA reaffirms its commitment to building a stronger, more effective institution that can deliver
