About the Client 

Since 2022, the Government of Sint Maarten has been enhancing public service accessibility and resilience through the Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP). Led by the partnership between National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) and Digital Leadership Team (DLT), the DGTP aims to reshape government service delivery by integrating digital channels to meet the demands of citizens and businesses. Funded by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund – supported by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank – the DGTP brings together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, Ministry of General Affairs, Ministry of Justice, and core registries across the public sector. 

Challenges 

Sint Maarten, like many Caribbean countries, faces challenges due to its heightened vulnerability to natural disasters. Located in the hurricane belt, it is prone to extreme weather events, including high winds, flooding, and earthquakes. The devastating impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 underscored the critical need for resilient digital infrastructure to ensure continuity of government services during crises. This experience has accelerated Sint Maarten’s pursuit of a digital transformation that not only enhances service delivery but also builds resilience and operational continuity in the face of emergencies. 

To realize this vision, Sint Maarten’s public sector must overcome several common transitional challenges: 

• Outdated or absent legal frameworks for digital operations 

• Limited digital skills  

• Analog business processes  

• Complex administrative procedures  

Solution 

Establishing a robust digital framework that meets the demands of the 21st century in safety, resilience, and transparency is essential to improving government-wide efficiency, strengthening public trust, and supporting long-term disaster resilience.

To address Sint Maarten’s challenges in building a resilient, citizen-centered digital government, the DGTP has designed a comprehensive approach with approximately 33 targeted activities at its core. These activities focus on establishing a robust foundation that delivers essential and supportive digital solutions, backed up with necessary legal and policy reforms, infrastructure development, and capacity-building efforts for public sector employees and citizens.  

Core Benefits: 

• Digital Services and Data Interoperability: The DGTP includes an upgraded government portal, offering a single, convenient access point for a growing number of digital services. At launch, six core government services will be fully digitalized, eliminating the need for physical paperwork and making services available anytime, anywhere. The developed digital foundations will later be used to add new digital services to the portal, providing fully digital ways for people and businesses to interact with governmental institutions. 

• Digital Identity and E-Signature: A foundational aspect of DGTP, digital identity will empower every citizen, resident and business to securely access and use government services online. Combined with e-signature and single-sign-on capabilities, digital ID will allow secure, convenient interactions with the government, eliminating the need for in-person visits or physical documentation. This streamlined setup will also enable significantly more efficient forms of digital transactions within the public sector. 

• Legislative and Strategic Frameworks: The project establishes essential policy, strategic and legal frameworks to enable the safe and sustainable functioning of digital government. These frameworks provide a solid foundation for delivering public services securely and create a space to expand the range of digital functions over time. 

• Enhanced Digital Competences: The DGTP prioritizes digital skills development for public sector employees and citizens, equipping them with the knowledge and abilities needed to navigate and utilize new digital systems effectively. This will ensure that civil servants are well-prepared to transition to a more digital way of implementing their daily activities. It also ensures that the public is aware of newly developed digital channels and services and ready to use them in a secure and responsible manner. 

NRD Companies’ Services 

Since 2022, NRD Companies has been instrumental in supporting Sint Maarten’s digital transformation. Working closely with the DLT, World Bank experts, and the NRPB, NRD Companies combines its functions as both a management advisor for the DGTP and a subject matter expert on core and supporting digital components delivery and integration. 

As part of these efforts, NRD Companies, along with other key DGTP stakeholders, conducted a 4-day Digital awareness building workshop series for the Sint Maarten Public Sector from October 28 to November 1, 2024. The agenda of the series was thoughtfully structured to address the unique needs of both operational and strategic levels within the public sector, supporting the Government of Sint Maarten’s (GoSXM) digital transformation initiatives. 

The operational-level sessions brought together core stakeholders from across government departments, including the civil registry, tax registry, business license registry, health department, Ministry of Finance, and Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, the strategic-level sessions engaged the Prime Minister and other members of the Council of Ministers, and the Secretary Generals of country’s ministries. 

Throughout these sessions, digital transformation was emphasized not as a technical upgrade but as a comprehensive shift in how the public sector enhances citizen services, builds resilient institutions, and prepares for future challenges. The workshops presented a clear vision, roadmap, and governance framework for Sint Maarten’s digital transformation, aligning key stakeholders on DGTP’s core technological components, legislative requirements, and necessary digital competencies. Additionally, an interactive design-thinking session engaged representatives in practical discussions essential to implementing digitalization reforms across the public sector, ultimately benefiting citizens, residents, and businesses. 

Expected Results 

The DGTP workshops have generated significant enthusiasm among participants who recognize the transformative potential of the project. Stakeholders anticipate that DGTP will streamline operations, reduce paperwork, increase productivity across departments, and deliver substantial benefits to citizens. 

Stakeholder Quote 

“I am a strong supporter of DGTP and am confident it will deliver meaningful benefits for both public and private sectors. For the Chamber of Commerce, DGTP will simplify business registration, streamline processes, and reduce the red tape entrepreneurs currently face. I am hopeful that lawmakers will prioritize the necessary legislative changes to bring digital governance to life.” 

— Jennifer Carty, Board Member, Sint Maarten Chamber of Commerce (Source: https://nrpbsxm.org/project-set-to-digitalize-sint-maarten-government-welcomed/)  

Replicability 

NRD Companies’ experience supporting DGTP provides a specialized set of hands-on knowledge, frameworks, and methodologies developed and tested in practice. This expertise demonstrates how to effectively implement digital transformation in small island nations or similar governmental contexts. With a track record of successful digital initiatives across Caribbean nations such as Dominica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, and others, NRD Companies’ frameworks can be customized to meet the unique needs of countries seeking to modernize their public sector services through digitalization. 

SDGs Addressed 

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth 

By streamlining administrative procedures and introducing efficient digital services, the Digital Government Transformation Project (DGTP) promotes economic growth and productivity. Simplified business registration and service delivery reduce red tape, creating a more conducive environment for entrepreneurship and job creation. 

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 

The DGTP modernizes public sector infrastructure by implementing advanced digital solutions such as digital identity and interoperable systems. These innovations improve the efficiency of government operations, foster innovation, and build a resilient digital framework that supports sustainable development. 

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities 

Through enhanced digital services, the DGTP ensures greater accessibility and inclusivity for residents, businesses, and citizens. The project builds resilience against disasters by integrating robust digital infrastructure, contributing to safer and more sustainable urban environments. 

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions 

The DGTP strengthens institutional capacity by establishing transparent and efficient governance systems. By introducing legal frameworks, digital identity, and secure online services, the project fosters trust, accountability, and equitable access to government services. 

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals 

The DGTP is a collaborative effort involving international partners such as the World Bank, the Government of the Netherlands, and NRD Companies, as well as local ministries and institutions. This partnership model exemplifies the importance of cross-sector collaboration in achieving sustainable development goals.