On a regular busy day in Sint Maarten, the sun casts a glimmering reflection over the island’s blue waters. Philipsburg’s four-street runway is lined with retail shops and restaurants, and businesspeople welcome customers into their premises. This is the calm after the storm.
After Hurricane Irma devastated the island in 2017, the World Bank established a cooperation framework for the relationship with the government of Sint Maarten, with funding from the government of the Netherlands, to restore the country. The Sint Maarten Reconstruction, Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund was launched as a tripartite partnership between the government of the Netherlands, the government of Sint Maarten, and the World Bank. The World Bank’s role is to help Sint Maarten rebuild stronger and more sustainably and support resilience and longer-term development priorities.
2024 marked six years since the partnership was formed—a good point to pause and reflect on the country’s progress. The need arose to amplify the ongoing visible transformation, innovations, and achievements. The Results Fair held at Sonesta Maho, Sint Maarten, on March 12, 2024, did just that.
The Results Fair was an opportunity for project beneficiaries to showcase how Trust Fund initiatives have positively impacted their lives, businesses, and communities. Project implementation units—National Recovery Program Bureau, UNICEF Netherlands, VNG International, Sint Maarten Medical Center, and Princess Juliana International Airport—joined efforts to engage with the public.
The island typically gives the impression of a sophisticated holiday resort city. For a few hours, however, an estimated 200 attendees from both public and private sectors gathered at Sonesta Maho to witness firsthand Trust Fund progress.
The halls of Sonesta Hotel filled with enthusiastic participants as they connected and compared notes. In one corner people gathered to play HURRYcane Run—a life-size game created by UNICEF to bring hurricane awareness to children—while in another corner images of newly renovated Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) sparked lively conversations.
PJIA elaborated on its revival and increase in tourist arrival traffic compared to pre-Irma levels. PJIA recently unveiled its state-of-the-art departure hall with sophisticated technology and improved throughput traffic. When airport completes arrival hall construction at end of 2024 it will return pre-Irma capacity nearly two million visitors serving regional hub fulfilling one long-term visions.
Samantha Hunt owner Uniquely Different shared her journey recovery success enabled Trust Fund Enterprise Support Project submitting application financing now offering signature spice blends story embodies resilience entrepreneurship fostered Trust Fund.
Conversations ranged critical themes effective community engagement partnerships adaptability resilience digital transformation cultural preservation education participants agreed sustainable development path forward.
“I really liked interaction see other businesses discuss what they are doing networked heard about different organizations how made impact community enjoyed myself.” —Jeanina Dupersoy Alicia’s Inn/Enterprise Support Project beneficiary.
In addition testimonials beneficiaries like Jeanina government officials project implementers expressed enthusiasm continued collaboration attesting overdue large-scale awareness raising Trust Fund value Sint Maarten.
“It was wonderful see all implementation units do this together see results communicate each other big corporations like airport small organizations exchanging ideas seeing how bring forward.” —Ronald Halman Trust Fund Steering Committee Member for Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten one smallest countries Caribbean not World Bank borrower remains overseas country territory Kingdom Netherlands shares southern part Caribbean Island Saint Martin French overseas collectivity although only 43 thousand people gross domestic product per capita about US$35 thousand solid tourism performance over years Philipsburg port popular cruise ship stop natural feature Simpson Bay Lagoon completely cleaned restored through Trust Fund
Results Fair demonstrated significant progress toward post-Irma reconstruction resilience goals event shed light results six years concerted efforts highlighted possibilities raised hope brighter future
In September 2017 Hurricane Irma devastating winds left reeling wake communities faced monumental task rebuilding amidst US$2 billion damages losses over ninety percent infrastructure affected amidst devastation emerged collective determination rebuild stronger united preventing calamity recurring
Through US$500 million grant Government Netherlands created goal helping build back stronger sustainably better withstand physical economic impact climate catastrophes tripartite partnership Government Netherlands World Bank Government funds provided support guidance administrator selects executes strategic projects designed reinforce resilience currently ten ongoing two completed
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