The Sint Maarten Trust Fund has presented its 2025 Annual Report to Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, highlighting what officials describe as a major shift from post-Irma recovery to long-term resilience.
Program Manager Toyin Jagha presented the report, the Executive Summary, and the latest Results Storybook, “Strong Communities, Strong Country.”
Now in its eighth year, the Trust Fund says its work is no longer only about plans, but visible results across the island.
The report covers 13 projects, with eight still active and five completed. By the end of 2025, more than 330 million U.S. dollars had been disbursed.
One of the biggest highlights is the full restoration and upgrade of Princess Juliana International Airport, completed under budget and strengthened for hurricane resilience.
The Trust Fund also reports support for more than 320 small businesses, with about 20 million U.S. dollars in financing. Nearly half of those businesses were owned or managed by women.
In healthcare, overseas medical referrals were reduced by 88 percent, while patient satisfaction rose to 85 percent. Construction of the new St. Maarten General Hospital also continues, with resilience features designed for major storms and earthquakes.
Community projects also played a major role. The report says 91 subprojects directly benefited more than 20,000 people, supporting youth, seniors, vulnerable families, and local organizations.
Other highlights include 65,000 public records digitized, 400 civil servants trained in cybersecurity, and 17.6 kilometers of electricity cables placed underground to reduce storm-related service disruptions.
Looking ahead, the focus now shifts to government ownership and sustaining these gains.
Because the real test is no longer only whether Sint Maarten can rebuild.
It is whether the country can maintain these systems and turn recovery into lasting resilience.