PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever recently visited the Pointe Blanche prison to get an update on the ongoing repairs being made at the facility. Urgent renovations are being carried out on the roof, corridor walls and courtyard walls.
Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE) NV is carrying out the construction project management and site supervision.
Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irma in 2017, many of the St. Maarten prisoners were transferred to Curaçao and the Netherlands, as the Pointe Blanche facility could not maintain them all. Once the current work at the facility is completed, the prisoners will be able to return, according to the minister.
De Weever said that is satisfied with the works being carried out to bring the facility up to par.
“It is important that the House of Detention is properly repaired prior to receiving our inmates back from the Netherlands and Curaçao, because St. Maarten has to abide by International Human Rights Standards to which St. Maarten is signatory via the Netherlands,” said the minister on Wednesday.
