After parts of the prison in Sint Maarten were set on fire by inmates, the local authorities issued an urgent call for help. Aruba responded quickly. Following a call from his counterpart in Curaçao, Minister Arthur Dowers immediately reached out to the Coast Guard for assistance in helping restore and maintain order in the prison.
Due to the deteriorated state of Aruba’s own correctional facility (KIA), it is not possible to transfer any inmates from Sint Maarten to the island.
David Leer, director of the Aruba Coast Guard, appealed to his team for volunteers to assist in Sint Maarten. Five well-qualified candidates were selected. The team includes individuals with experience as prison guards and in handling similar high-risk situations.
To support security efforts in Sint Maarten, the Dutch military provided an aircraft to transport 16 marines from the Savaneta Barracks and five Coast Guard officers to the island.
Sergeant Koenders of the Marine Barracks in Savaneta confirmed that the request for help came directly from their colleagues in Sint Maarten, given the severity of the situation. For many of the marines, this is a valuable chance to gain hands-on experience in crisis operations, while others are already seasoned in this type of deployment.
The Royal Netherlands Navy team will remain in Sint Maarten for five days. The Coast Guard team is scheduled to stay for ten days, with the option to extend their mission if needed.
