Prisoners in Sint Maarten left without food for 24 hours as guards fail to show up
NL TimesInmates at Pointe Blanche prison in Sint Maarten were left without food for approximately 24 hours after no prison guards reported for duty. Sint Maarten’s Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, condemned the incident, calling it “unacceptable.” Speaking to local media, she stated, “Regardless of their circumstances, every individual has the right to humane treatment, and I fully understand the frustration and concern this situation has caused.” Since 2010, Sint Maarten has been an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, along with Aruba and Curaçao. In response, the Dutch government allocated 30 million euros to improve Sint Maarten’s prison system, including 20 million euros for constructing a new, larger facility expected to be completed in 2028. According to NOS correspondent Dick Drayer, the fact that the outgoing shift of guards left without waiting for the next shift to arrive suggests a deeper issue with staff motivation.
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