THE HAGUE--Minister Plenipotentiary Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell recently received Benjamin Ortega, Director of Cadaster St. Maarten, for a working visit at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague, where discussions focused on strengthening institutional cooperation and creating more opportunities for St. Maarten students and young professionals.
Ortega, who has served as Director of Cadaster St. Maarten since November 2024, discussed with Arrindell a range of areas that could contribute to the continued development and modernization of Cadaster and other institutions in St. Maarten.
The discussions covered succession planning, education and professional training, preservation of archives, innovation, institutional capacity building and the safeguarding of essential cadastral and land-registration records.
Particular attention was given to opportunities for further education and specialized professional development in cadastral and mortgage-registration fields. The parties also discussed the importance of retaining institutional knowledge and ensuring that critical records are preserved and managed for future generations.
Arrindell and Ortega explored possibilities for internships, professional exchanges and knowledge transfer, especially for St. Maarten students and young professionals pursuing studies or careers in fields connected to land administration, engineering and institutional development.
During the meeting, Ortega was briefly joined by Sidney Williams, a St. Maarten student who recently graduated in civil engineering and is continuing his studies while also pursuing an internship with Cadaster.
Williams’ participation highlighted the importance of providing young professionals with practical experience and direct exposure to institutions where their skills can contribute to St. Maarten’s future development.
Arrindell pointed to the Cabinet’s Diaspora Database as a practical tool that can help connect students and professionals in the Netherlands with institutions seeking interns, trainees or qualified personnel.
The database forms part of the Cabinet’s wider effort to maintain stronger ties with St. Maarteners in the Netherlands and connect available talent with educational, employment and professional-development opportunities. The initiative has also been used to support targeted recruitment and help link St. Maarten professionals abroad with opportunities in the country.
Arrindell said the Cabinet in The Hague can serve as a facilitator between Cadaster St. Maarten and relevant Dutch institutions, educational establishments, professionals and networks that may be able to support training, innovation and institutional development.
The parties agreed to maintain close contact and continue identifying practical opportunities that can strengthen Cadaster’s capacity while also creating meaningful pathways for St. Maarten students and professionals to gain experience, develop specialized expertise and contribute to the country’s continued development.
