Justice Ministry says UNOPS independent review upheld Heyliger sentence calculation

GREAT BAY--An independent technical review requested by the Ministry of Justice found that Point Blanche Prison correctly calculated the sentence and credited pre-trial detention in the matter concerning former minister and MP Theo Heyliger, according to a Ministry statement addressing questions over the early-release process.

The Ministry said the review was carried out by a Technical Rule of Law Adviser from the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS, after an alternative sentence calculation was submitted on behalf of the applicant. The adviser was asked to examine the prison’s existing calculation and determine whether the applicable law had been correctly applied and whether the alternative calculation exposed any error affecting the relevant dates.

The Ministry also said the involvement of UNOPS fell within its existing role under the Detention Sector Reform Program. While the organisation is widely associated with support for the design and construction of the new prison, its mandate also includes technical advisory support aimed at strengthening prison administration, correctional management and sentence-management systems.

This has become important as questions continue over whether an external organisation had assumed a role in determining Heyliger’s eligibility or release. Based on the Ministry’s explanation, UNOPS provided an independent technical opinion on the accuracy of the prison’s calculation, but did not exercise decision-making authority over the application.

According to the Ministry, the review concluded that the prison had correctly applied the sentence-calculation methodology and properly credited Heyliger’s period of pre-trial detention.

The Ministry stressed that the technical review did not amount to a new sentence calculation and did not determine whether Heyliger should be released.

It said UNOPS did not calculate or recalculate the sentence, assess the inmate, determine eligibility for release or make any decision on conditional release. Those responsibilities remained with Point Blanche Prison, the Probation Service and the Minister of Justice under their respective statutory roles.

The clarification comes amid continuing public discussion over Heyliger’s possible early release and the institutions involved in reviewing his case.

The Ministry’s account separates the technical examination of the sentence dates from the wider decision-making process. The UNOPS adviser’s role was limited to reviewing whether the prison’s calculation complied with the law and whether the competing calculation revealed an error that could affect the sentence expiry or conditional-release timeline.

The review therefore did not replace the prison’s administrative function, the Probation Service’s assessment responsibilities or the Minister’s authority in the process.

The Ministry’s statement does not announce a decision on Heyliger’s early release. It addresses only the sentence-calculation review and confirms that the prison’s methodology and treatment of pre-trial detention were found to be correct.

Any remaining steps in the process continue to rest with the St. Maarten authorities legally responsible for prison administration, probation assessment and the final ministerial decision.

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