PM Exploring Marine Detachment Forming Part of Government’s Social Formation Program
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams received a courtesy call at her Cabinet with representatives of the Royal Dutch Marines in preparation for the opening of the Marine Detachment Base this week. The Prime Minister previously announced that she is exploring the Marine Detachment on St. Maarten forming part of Government’s Social Formation program.
"The Marine Base has been in the works for some time now, ever since the Dutch Ministry of Defense had discussed with the Governor, myself and other stakeholders on St. Maarten regarding the possibility of a base being established here some time ago. We immediately grabbed that proposal and held on to it because it has more than one benefit for St. Maarten: it contributes to the safety and security of St. Maarten: the assistance of the marines will be readily available since they are stationed here for example during times of disasters; and what is extremely important and one of the reasons why I held on to the idea and kept the discussions going, was that we want to have the marine detachment stationed here for part of Government’s social formation program, contributing to the professional formation of our young people, and this is the aspect that we really want to see established and we hope to have a contingent stationed here by August," stated the Prime Minister.