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Gracita Arrindell: first President of Parliament and Minister Plenipotentiary

A profile of Drs. Gracita R. Arrindell, the first President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten from 10 October 2010 and the country's Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague since 26 November 2024.

By SXM Daily ·

Gracita Arrindell holds a place in the history of Sint Maarten's parliament: when the country was created on 10 October 2010, she became the first President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten. Since 26 November 2024 she has represented the country in the Netherlands as its Minister Plenipotentiary, based in The Hague.

The Sint Maarten Government Administration Building in Philipsburg (illustrative)

Illustrative: the Government Administration Building, Philipsburg. Photo: Remis Velisque / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

First President of Parliament

Sint Maarten became a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 10 October 2010. Arrindell was the first President of its Parliament, from that day, according to the Government of Sint Maarten.

The President of Parliament chairs its public meetings and, together with the two Vice Presidents, forms the Presidium that oversees Parliament's work. The current President, as of October 2026, is Sarah Wescot-Williams.

Minister Plenipotentiary

The Government of Sint Maarten states that Arrindell was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary on 26 November 2024. The Daily Herald reported that, as Minister Plenipotentiary, she opened a job fair in The Hague on 28 November 2024. In October 2025 the government published her reflections on the island's constitutional journey for Constitution Day.

Education

Government releases give her title as Drs., a Dutch university degree, and use the official form of her name, Gracita R. Arrindell.

Sources

  • https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/pages/Minister-Plenipotentiary-2025-Marked-a-Pivotal-Moment-in-Shaping-the-Future-Direction-of-the-Cabinet.aspx
  • https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/Pages/Minister-Plenipotentiary-Arrindell-Reflects-on-Constitutional-Journey-in-Celebration-of-Constitution-Day.aspx
  • https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/plenipotentiary-minister-arrindell-opens-job-fair
  • https://sxmparliament.org/presidium/
  • https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SXM_Admin_Bldg.jpg

Source: https://www.sintmaartengov.org/news/pages/Minister-Plenipotentiary-2025-Marked-a-Pivotal-Moment-in-Shaping-the-Future-Direction-of-the-Cabinet.aspx

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