Study finds disaster-response gaps across Sint Maarten and Dutch Caribbean islands

A Crisisplan study commissioned by the Dutch Ministries of Justice and Security and Interior and Kingdom Relations found vulnerabilities in Sint Maarten’s crisis-management capacity and that of five other Caribbean islands. The assessment, reported on Wednesday 7 October, covered Sint Maarten, Curaçao, Aruba, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.

According to Crisisplan, researchers tested crisis-management capacity against three risk scenarios. They identified weaknesses in training and education, backup staffing, information management, specialist expertise, medical capacity, critical dependencies, logistics, emergency shelter and transportation.

The Dutch government said the study will be used to determine which capabilities should be strengthened on individual islands and which could be organised jointly across the Kingdom. It said improvements would have to be introduced gradually because of financial and personnel limitations.

The study also recommends strengthening joint search-and-rescue capacity for large maritime incidents. For Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard coordinates maritime search and rescue, and the Dutch government said it is investing in Coast Guard personnel and equipment.

In November 2025, the Dutch Inspectorate of Justice and Security found that Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba were insufficiently prepared for disasters and crises, and that four of five earlier recommendations had not been fully implemented.