Artist’s impression
PHILIPSBURG--Construction of the new Pointe Blanche prison began in January 2026 and is expected to be completed by July 2028, according to Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. The project is being implemented through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as part of the Detention Sector Reform Programme. The new facility is expected to cost approximately US $53 million and will provide capacity for up to 196 inmates.
According to the minister, construction entered the first operational phase by July, with demolition, site-camp preparations and groundwork underway. The facility is expected to provide more than double the current detention capacity and will include healthcare services, family visitation areas, recreational facilities, workshops and classrooms for vocational training.
A separate response to Parliament stated that construction began on January 15, 2026, with CESAF JV as contractor and Artelia JV as supervising engineer. The zero-allocation shown for the prison under the 2026 capital budget does not mean construction has stopped. According to the Minister, the project is being separately financed and administered through UNOPS, with contributions from St. Maarten and the Netherlands.
An intermediate milestone is expected in the third quarter of 2027, when approximately half of the cells and the administration building should be delivered. Tackling said the total project budget remains approximately US $53 million and that the design has been developed in accordance with the Nelson Mandela Rules and other international standards for humane detention.
