Prime Minister Mercelina (centre) raises a toast with (left) Nicolas Chenet and (right) Fabian McKinnon.
PHILIPSBURG--In a message that resonated with clarity and conviction, St. Maarten’s Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina opened the Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity programme RESEMBID Capstone Day with a call for collaborative Caribbean development rooted in real results and human impact.
“Real impact goes beyond reports and spreadsheets,” he declared during the final Strategic Steering Committee (SSC) meeting on June 19, 2025. “It’s about outcomes. It’s about people. It's about meeting real needs, from synchronised disaster alerts in St. Maarten and St. Martin, to retrofitted homes in the Cayman Islands, to solar-powered schools and gardens in the BVI [British Virgin Islands – Ed.].”
Addressing representatives of the 12 overseas countries and territories (OCTs), the European Union, Expertise France, and RESEMBID, Mercelina praised the strides in resilience, education and livelihoods. But he was also blunt in his advice to fellow Caribbean leaders: “Cut through the bureaucracy, stay grounded in purpose, and keep delivering for those who need it most.”
The RESEMBID Capstone Day marked the culmination of a six-year journey that mobilised 23 million euros and delivered 48 projects across the Caribbean OCTs. More than 93% of programmable funds have been disbursed, and more than 85% of the projects have been rated successful or exceeding expectations.
The day’s programme included RESEMBID’s final governance session, an interactive “Moving the Needle” exhibition of field achievements, and a gala dinner that brought closure with celebration.
Funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France, RESEMBID supported OCT-led initiatives focused on climate resilience, renewable energy, disaster preparedness, and social inclusion. The programme’s emphasis on national ownership and respectful partnership was repeatedly highlighted as a cornerstone of its success.
European Commission Policy and Programme Manager Layla El Khadraoui expressed the European Union’s pride in RESEMBID’s enduring legacy, while Expertise France Sustainable Development Department Director Nicolas Chenet described the programme as “an incredible journey” that exceeded expectations.
“It’s a programme that truly makes sense, professionally and personally,” Chenet said, commending the commitment to do what was right even when it meant working against bureaucratic norms.
Final updates from RESEMBID’s internal teams, covering grants and administration, monitoring and evaluation, and communications, provided a comprehensive look at the programme’s scope and lasting outcomes ahead of its official close in September 2025.
“What you have done is by any standard outstanding,” said RESEMBID Programme Director Fabian McKinnon. From his decades in global development, he affirmed that the real triumph was
not just financial or statistical, but human.
“This success wasn’t accidental,” McKinnon said. “It came from a decision to be country-led from the outset. To build real partnerships. To listen before acting. To co-create with communities instead of prescribing solutions.”
He highlighted what he described as RESEMBID’s most powerful legacy – a psychological one: the restoration of agency among small-island peoples.
“Agency is the most powerful psychological force for human beings,” McKinnon said, quoting Nelson Mandela. “Yes, I can. Yes, I give myself permission. Yes, I am in charge.”
Returning to the stage during the evening programme, Mercelina delivered a powerful appeal for regional solidarity.
“We must stop trying to prove that we can do it alone,” he said. “We are 43 million strong, and we are incredible people.”
Evoking cultural icons like Usain Bolt, Rihanna, and Brian Lara – born barefoot on island soil and risen to global acclaim – he challenged the region to own its power, not just remember it. “This is the time to come together. We’ve already proven our greatness. Now let’s lead with it.”
From cleaner energy to smarter policies and modernised systems, RESEMBID’s six years of operation have shown the power of strategic investment combined with Caribbean collaboration. These locally led initiatives have improved lives, protected livelihoods and built a more resilient future for the region.
