ORANJESTAD (AAN): During his visit to St. Maarten in connection with the Justitieel Vierlanden Overleg (JVO) meetings, Aruba’s Minister of Justice, Mr. Drs. Arthur Dowers, attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Pointe Blanche Prison.
His participation highlighted the importance of regional cooperation as Aruba continues its own efforts to modernize correctional facilities and plans to replace the KIA prison, which has been in an alarming state of deterioration and has faced long-standing capacity limitations.
Together with Governor of Sint Maarten Ajamu Baly, Dutch Minister of Justice Foort van Oosten, Curaçao’s Minister of Transport Charles Cooper, and other officials and invited guests, Minister Dowers received a detailed presentation from Sint Maarten’s Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling and Pointe Blanche Prison Director Steven Carti.
The presentation addressed the serious infrastructure and capacity challenges faced by the current facility, which accommodates 80 male inmates and six female inmates, along with 15 police holding cells that, by law, may only be used for a maximum of ten days.
The new Pointe Blanche Prison project includes extensive infrastructural and functional improvements. Planned facilities include preventive detention units, expanded sections for male and female detainees, education and vocational training areas, medical and dental consultation rooms, psychological support services, recreational spaces, and modern staff facilities. The prison will also be equipped with state-of-the-art security systems to enhance inmate management and staff safety.
Under the development plan, the prison’s capacity will nearly double. Phase one, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027, will increase capacity from 80 to 120 cells. Phase two, projected for completion in 2028, will further expand total capacity to 196 cells. These figures are based on crime projections, regional benchmarks, and economic feasibility.
Minister Dowers’ presence at the groundbreaking ceremony underscored the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge exchange, as Aruba advances plans to construct a modern correctional facility that meets international standards, including the United Nations Nelson Mandela Rules adopted in 2015.
The new correctional facility in Sint Maarten is being supported by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). Representatives from UNOPS are also scheduled to visit Aruba in the coming days to provide a presentation on plans for a new prison on the island.
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