THE NETHERLANDS (THE HAGUE) – Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, recently received Benjamin Ortega, Director of Cadaster Sint Maarten, for a working visit at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague. Ortega has served as Director of Cadaster Sint Maarten since November 2024.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and identify opportunities in the Netherlands that can contribute to the continued development and modernization of Cadaster Sint Maarten and other institutions on Sint Maarten.
The discussions addressed several areas, including succession planning, education and professional training, archiving preservation, innovation and institutional capacity building.
Attention was given to opportunities for further education and specialized professional training within the cadastral and mortgage-registration fields, as well as to the importance of preserving institutional knowledge and safeguarding essential cadastral and land-registration records.
The parties also explored opportunities for internships, professional exchanges, and knowledge transfer, particularly for Sint Maarten students and young professionals pursuing studies or careers in fields relevant to the cadastral sector.
During the meeting, Ortega was briefly joined by Sidney Williams, a Sint Maarten student who recently graduated in civil engineering and is continuing his studies while also pursuing an internship with Cadaster.
His presence underscored the importance of creating pathways for young professionals to gain practical experience and contribute to the future development of Sint Maarten.
In this context, Minister Arrindell highlighted the Cabinet’s Diaspora Database as a practical instrument that can assist in connecting students and professionals with institutions seeking interns, trainees or qualified personnel.
The Database forms part of the Cabinet’s broader effort to maintain stronger connections with Sint Maarteners in the Netherlands and to connect available talent with educational, employment and professional-development opportunities.
The Cabinet has previously used this initiative to support targeted recruitment and to facilitate connections between Sint Maarten professionals and opportunities in Sint Maarten.
Minister Arrindell welcomed the opportunity to explore how the Cabinet in The Hague can serve as a facilitator and connector between Cadaster Sint Maarten and relevant Dutch institutions, educational establishments, professionals and networks.
The parties agreed on the importance of maintaining close contact and pursuing practical opportunities that can strengthen institutional capacity while creating meaningful pathways for Sint Maarten students and professionals to gain experience, develop expertise, and ultimately contribute to the continued development of the country.
