Sint Maarten Reaffirms Partnership with UN in New Cooperation Agreement

The Government of Sint Maarten has become the latest signatory to the new United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Framework (MSDCF) for the Caribbean for the years 2022 to 2026.

The Framework will govern UN collaboration in the region for the next five years, support countries and territories to recover and rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic and work on sustainable development in a way that leaves no one behind.

The new cooperation framework was signed by the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honourable Silveria Jacobs and Marina Walter, UN Resident Coordinator, during a virtual ceremony between UN House in Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of Sint Maarten on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

Ms. Walter was joined by several members of the UN Country Team in commending the Government of Sint Maarten for its substantive contribution to the Cooperation Framework design process and for its strengthened and continuing partnership with the UN.

In her remarks, Ms. Walter said, “the new generation Cooperation Framework ushers in a new era of the UN and the Caribbean working closely together. It signals an opportunity for development cooperation and provides a great platform for the UN to continue supporting the Government of Sint Maarten in achieving its Agenda 2030 objectives.”

The Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the commitment of the UN to the Government of Sint Maarten achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals during the Decade of Action.

Prime Minister Jacobs said, “Sint Maarten is very pleased with the leadership role the United Nations is taking in bringing the Caribbean countries together. This platform is crucial for knowledge exchange and transfer between Countries that are at the frontlines of climate change. It furthermore provides Sint Maarten with a stronger voice on an international platform like the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which could lead to opportunities that will assist Sint Maarten in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. I am grateful for Ms. Walter’s contribution as the UN Resident Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, which has resulted in a greater understanding of our realities. I therefore look forward to participating in the UNGA 2022.”

UNDP, UNEP, UN Women, IOM, FAO and ILO also participated in the signing ceremony, and offered congratulations to the Government of Sint Maarten, while giving assurances of their continued support.

The MSDCF identifies four key priorities for achieving resilient sustainable development in the region: increased support to the economic resilience agenda; intensified efforts to ensure realization of human rights for all; strong commitment to enhancing inclusive disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation; and scaled up support to ensure that Caribbean societies remain peaceful and just societies.