St Maarten's financial problems were the focus of attention in the Dutch legislature in December and again in February when representatives of a number of parties called on the Dutch minister for kingdom relations, Piet Hein Donner, to intervene to put the new country's finances in order. On the first occasion, Mr Donner replied that the new country must be given time to resolve its problems, but in February he stated that he would intervene "if necessary".

There are indications that the authorities are finding themselves stretched as they assume the tasks of enforcing law and order in the new country. In mid-January, the St Maarten police chief, Peter de Witte, requested that the Dutch government provide 20 police officers over a three-year period. He said that the St Maarten police force lacked expertise and the capacity to train new officers. Also in January, the minister of justice, Roland Duncan, announced an increase in the number of staff at the financial intelligence unit tasked with collecting information about money-laundering and the financing of terrorism. The increase came after the Dutch authorities raised concerns about the capacity of the agency.