GREAT BAY--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has received the St. Maarten Trust Fund’s 2025 Annual Report, its Executive Summary and the fifth volume of the Trust Fund’s Results Storybook, titledStrong Communities, Strong Country: Stories of Recovery and Resilience in St. Maarten.
The documents were presented to the Prime Minister in June 2026 by St. Maarten Trust Fund Program Manager Toyin Jagha of the World Bank Group.
Now in its eighth year, the Trust Fund said its work has moved beyond projected results, with projects producing visible benefits for residents, businesses and public institutions across St. Maarten.
The 2025 Annual Report covers a US$519 million portfolio consisting of eight active projects in areas including airport reconstruction, small-business financing, healthcare, community development and social services.
Among the major accomplishments highlighted is the full restoration and upgrading of Princess Juliana International Airport. According to the Trust Fund, the project was completed under budget and has placed St. Maarten’s principal international gateway on stronger footing while reconnecting the country to the wider world.
The report also states that more than 320 small businesses have received financing to expand their operations and create employment. Nearly half of the businesses supported are led by women.
The financing has provided assistance to a private sector that continues to recover from the economic and physical damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
Progress was also reported in healthcare, with fewer families required to travel abroad for medical treatment. The report points to a substantial reduction in overseas medical referrals and increased levels of patient satisfaction.
Through 91 community subprojects, more than 20,000 people, representing nearly half of St. Maarten’s population, have gained access to safer spaces, improved services and systems designed to help communities withstand future crises.
The fifth Results Storybook accompanies the annual report and focuses on the experiences of residents, entrepreneurs, medical professionals and students who have been directly affected by Trust Fund-supported projects.
The publication seeks to document recovery beyond financial figures and physical construction by showing how projects have affected people’s daily lives.
According to the Trust Fund, the most important measure of progress is not simply what has been built, but the people and communities reached through the investments.
“Presenting this report directly to the Prime Minister was a meaningful step in deepening government engagement at the highest level,” Jagha said.
“The feedback we received reinforces our commitment to ensuring the next phase of this work is shaped by St. Maarten’s own priorities and leadership.”
Prime Minister Mercelina reviewed the materials and engaged with the Trust Fund on the results presented. The Trust Fund said it welcomed his feedback as the program continues working to deliver measurable outcomes.
The 2025 Annual Report and the Results Storybook are available through the St. Maarten Recovery website’s reports section.
Established in 2018, the St. Maarten Trust Fund is a partnership involving the Government of the Netherlands, the Government of St. Maarten and the World Bank.
The Trust Fund was created to support St. Maarten’s recovery following Hurricane Irma and to strengthen the country’s long-term resilience.
Since its establishment, the fund has financed projects across several critical sectors, including debris management, airport reconstruction, support for small businesses and the delivery of social services.
