GREAT BAY--The Ministry of Justice will operate with a virtually unchanged budget of Cg 113.8 million in 2027, despite continuing staff shortages across law enforcement, detention, immigration and other critical services. With only 54 percent of its authorized positions filled, the Ministry faces significant challenges in maintaining operations, implementing reforms and expanding its capacity to deliver justice and public safety services.
Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs, serving as Acting Minister of Justice, presented the Ministry's 2027 budget to Parliament on Tuesday on behalf of Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. The presentation outlined a budget focused primarily on maintaining existing services, while identifying staffing, equipment, infrastructure and financial constraints that continue to affect the justice sector.
The proposed budget totals Cg 113,769,620, approximately Cg 44,000 less than the approved 2026 budget of Cg 113,813,582, representing a reduction of just 0.04 percent.
The presentation described the allocation as a standstill budget, meaning that it largely maintains existing funding levels without providing significant additional resources for new initiatives.
Of the total budget, approximately Cg 81.8 million, or 71.9 percent, is allocated to personnel expenses. Another Cg 13.6 million is allocated to goods and services, Cg 13.8 million to obligations under Kingdom legislation and Cg 4.6 million to subsidies for justice sector partners.
The Ministry expects to generate approximately Cg 24.8 million in revenue during 2027, leaving a net cost to government of just under Cg 89 million.
More Than 500 Justice Positions Remain Vacant
One of the most significant concerns highlighted in the presentation was the continuing shortage of personnel throughout the Ministry.
Of the 1,096 positions within the Ministry's formal staffing structure, only 590 are currently filled. This represents approximately 54 percent of the required workforce.
The 2027 budget includes Cg 2.59 million to recruit 53 additional employees, the same number of positions funded for recruitment in 2026. Even if all 53 vacancies are filled, staffing levels would increase to only approximately 59 percent of the established workforce.
The presentation indicated that filling all vacant positions would require approximately Cg 45.5 million, considerably more than the current recruitment allocation.
The shortages affect several key departments. The Police Force has filled approximately 61 percent of its positions, with 211 employees out of an authorized 344. The Prison and Remand Center is operating at approximately 39 percent staffing, while Customs has filled 44 percent of its positions.
Immigration and Border Protection is operating at approximately 63 percent staffing, while the Financial Intelligence Unit has filled only seven of its 40 authorized positions, representing approximately 18 percent.
The National Detectives Department, which investigates integrity-related offenses, is operating at approximately 26 percent staffing.
According to the presentation, these shortages affect criminal investigations, detention supervision, border enforcement, revenue collection and the timely handling of judicial cases.
The Ministry also acknowledged that the gap between approved funding and actual spending reflects difficulties in filling vacancies and executing planned activities.
In 2025, the Ministry spent approximately Cg 86.9 million of its Cg 107.1 million approved budget, representing approximately 81 percent.
Cg 2 Million Redirected to Prison Guard Salaries
Although overall expenditure remains virtually unchanged, the Ministry has adjusted how certain funds will be used.
Approximately Cg 2 million previously allocated to cover the costs of housing St. Maarten detainees in the Netherlands has been transferred to personnel expenditure to finance prison guard salaries.
The adjustment follows an agreement under which St. Maarten is not required to cover those detention costs in the Netherlands until the new penitentiary facility is completed.
The reallocation increases the Ministry's personnel budget without increasing its total expenditure.
Detention and rehabilitation services have been allocated approximately Cg 15.7 million for 2027, covering prison operations, custody, supervision, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Capital Investments Carried Over From 2026
The Ministry's 2027 capital budget totals approximately Cg 4.47 million, the same amount approved for 2026.
The allocation includes approximately Cg 2.2 million for vehicles and transport equipment, Cg 1.41 million for ICT equipment and Cg 441,000 for software, including improvements to immigration application systems.
The presentation explained that none of the capital investments planned for 2026 were executed because the national budget was approved in August, leaving insufficient time to secure the borrowing required to finance them.
Consequently, the same projects have been carried forward to 2027.
The Ministry also identified approximately Cg 7.2 million in additional capital projects associated with its strategic policy objectives. However, these projects are not included in the Cg 4.47 million capital allocation and still require financing.
They include initiatives related to screening and integrity systems, efforts against human trafficking and smuggling, and improvements to border security and crime prevention capabilities.
Six Policy Goals for 2027
Despite the limited financial flexibility, the Ministry will continue pursuing six strategic policy goals during 2027.
These priorities include strengthening international cooperation with strategic partners, promoting shared responsibility for safety and justice, building a fairer and more effective justice system, preventing and combating crime, modernizing border security and immigration services, and reforming the prison system while reducing repeat offending.
The programs include strengthening child protection, supporting victims of crime, improving juvenile justice services, developing forensic investigative capabilities and advancing cooperation with regional and Kingdom partners.
The Ministry will also continue initiatives involving the Point Blanche prison reconstruction, detention reform, police training and programs aimed at rehabilitation and reintegration.
Several of these activities are supported through funding arrangements outside the Ministry's ordinary national budget, including partnerships with the Netherlands, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and other institutions.
The Ministry's Crime Fund will also support the implementation of 11 projects under a policy plan approved in August 2026, with approximately Cg 1.2 million allocated to initiatives involving youth programs, diversion, reintegration, gun violence intervention and professional development.
Justice Workers' Placement and Retroactive Payments
The presentation also addressed the long-running placement and compensation process for justice personnel.
Under the first phase, the Ministry is working to finalize the remaining National Decrees for 15 active employees and seven former employees who resigned after January 1, 2023, and remain eligible.
The Ministry's management team has been instructed to complete the outstanding files by November 30, 2026.
The second phase involves validating retroactive salary calculations covering the period from October 10, 2010, through December 31, 2022.
Payments are planned for the first and second quarters of 2027, although completion remains dependent on the required administrative approvals and the issuance of signed National Decrees.
The Ministry anticipates that most files will be finalized during the second quarter of 2027.
A broader placement exercise for employees across the Ministry is also expected to begin in the second quarter, with formal positions and remuneration aligned with the approved organizational structure.
Additionally, the Ministry has instructed the relevant authorities to complete the tender for insurance coverage for law enforcement personnel by January 31, 2027. Funding for the insurance has been included in the proposed budget.
Kingdom Obligations Exceed Budgeted Contributions
Another financial concern involves St. Maarten's contributions to judicial and law enforcement institutions operating under Kingdom legislation.
The 2027 budget allocates approximately Cg 13.8 million to these institutions, including the Joint Court of Justice, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Attorney General's Office, the Coast Guard and the Council for Law Enforcement.
However, the institutions collectively requested approximately Cg 19.5 million for 2027, leaving a difference of approximately Cg 5.7 million between the requested amounts and the allocations included in the budget.
The presentation indicated that the difference has been discussed with Kingdom partners and will be addressed during 2027 and through the multi-year budgeting process.
These obligations represent mandatory contributions that limit the Ministry's ability to redirect resources toward other priorities.
Focus on Delivering Results
The Ministry's presentation concluded by emphasizing that the 2027 budget is primarily intended to sustain existing services rather than fund significant expansion.
The central challenge remains converting approved financial allocations into actual staffing, functioning equipment, completed projects and improved services.
The Ministry has committed to reporting to Parliament on progress under its six strategic goals, implementation of the Crime Fund projects and recruitment results, including areas where targets are not achieved.
With significant vacancies, delayed capital investments and limited financial flexibility, the effectiveness of the 2027 Justice budget will depend heavily on the Ministry's ability to implement existing commitments, improve recruitment and strengthen operational capacity across the justice sector.
