PHILIPSBURG--Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling has outlined a series of priorities for 2027, including completing the Point Blanche prison redevelopment, addressing long-standing personnel placement issues, strengthening law enforcement and modernising immigration and customs systems.
Responding to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) during the budget discussions, Tackling said the 2027 Justice budget does not differ significantly from the 2026 budget, because the ministry had made deliberate choices within the largely unchanged framework.
She identified four main policy priorities: strengthening the justice system, improving law enforcement and crime prevention, continuing prison reform and reducing reoffending, and modernising border security, customs and immigration.
According to Tackling, the necessary funds have been allocated for these priorities through the 2027 budget and the multi-annual budget. She said the priorities are primarily financed from the ministry's own budget, with the implementation of ASYCUDA, the automated customs system, being partially financed through the Temporary Work Organization (TWO).
Several projects are multi-year undertakings, including the completion of the Point Blanche prison, structural repairs to the Foreign Detention Centre and the development of a permanent headquarters for customs enforcement. The 2027 budget covers work scheduled for that year, while completion of the projects is included in the multi-annual budget. The ministry also plans to use 2027 funding to settle retroactive payments owed to justice personnel, recruit additional staff and strengthen cooperation within the ministry.
In law enforcement, Tackling said the ministry intends to increase oversight and transparency, develop a strategy to improve public order on the roads, expand officer training and strengthen enforcement of weapons legislation through forensic tools and data analysis. Prison reform will focus on completing the reconstruction of Point Blanche, improving housing, management and staffing, and expanding rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
Border security priorities include enforcing immigration legislation, bringing the Foreign Detention Centre in line with international detention standards, increasing cooperation with the Netherlands, Saint-Martin and regional partners, implementing ASYCUDA and working towards a permanent customs enforcement headquarters. Tackling said projects receiving external financing also receive government contributions, which she said can be seen in the Ministry of Justice's project and activity budget line items.
