PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has confirmed that his government has formally alerted the Kingdom of the Netherlands about the growing United States naval presence in the Caribbean, calling for closer coordination and preparedness amid rising regional tensions involving Venezuela and the U.S. military.

Speaking at the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing, Dr. Mercelina said Sint Maarten cannot afford to remain passive as international powers strengthen their positions in the region.

“There is an increase in tension in the Caribbean and the northern part of South America,” Mercelina said. “Given the geographical proximity and unique geopolitical position of St. Maarten, it is my responsibility as Prime Minister to remain proactive in matters of regional security and preparedness.”

The Prime Minister confirmed that he had already discussed the issue with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof during the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month and that he has since sent a formal letter to the Kingdom Government, reinforcing Sint Maarten’s commitment to defense coordination.

“The letter will reinforce our commitment to coordination within the Kingdom on defense and security matters,” he explained, “ensuring that St. Maarten’s interests and safety are adequately represented.”

Rising Regional Tensions

The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid reports of increased U.S. Navy activity across the southern Caribbean, part of Washington’s broader response to heightened friction with Venezuela.
In recent months, international media outlets have reported new U.S. naval deployments, expanded maritime patrols, and anti-trafficking operations throughout the region. At the same time, Venezuela has boosted its own coastal defense and naval readiness.

Analysts warn that the military buildup could heighten risks for smaller Caribbean nations—raising concerns about maritime safety, migration pressures, and trade disruptions.

“The presence of competing military interests in nearby waters makes our geographic location strategically important,” a government source told The Daily Herald. “The Prime Minister wants Sint Maarten to be ready, not reactive.”

Ensuring Safety and Coordination

Dr. Mercelina emphasized that Sint Maarten’s focus is on coordination, not confrontation. He said his government’s actions are guided by a commitment to protect the island’s residents while ensuring the country’s voice is heard within Kingdom security planning.

“We must reinforce our commitment to coordination within the Kingdom,” he said. “We want to make sure Sint Maarten’s interests are not left out of discussions that directly affect our safety.”

As part of broader efforts to strengthen resilience, Mercelina said Sint Maarten is also deepening bilateral cooperation with the French side of the island on emergency management and disaster response.

“We are setting up uniform color codes for emergencies and aligning our emergency broadcast systems,” he noted. “It’s one island, one people. This uniform approach reflects our ongoing collaboration to ensure safety and well-being.”

Under the new arrangement, Dutch and French authorities will hold quarterly coordination meetings focusing on public safety, crisis management, and disaster response, especially in light of the increased military presence in regional waters.

A Proactive Foreign Policy

Mercelina’s statement signals a more assertive foreign policy approach by his administration—one that balances Sint Maarten’s limited defense capacity with its right to be informed and protected within the Kingdom.

The Prime Minister also highlighted Sint Maarten’s intention to strengthen diplomatic ties with Caribbean partners, announcing plans to attend Suriname’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations next month as part of the Kingdom delegation.

“We will use the opportunity to meet with Suriname’s Ministers of Economic Affairs and Agriculture,” he said. “Our goal is to build direct connections with Caribbean nations and explore opportunities for agricultural cooperation.”

Balancing Autonomy and Security

While Sint Maarten does not control its own defense forces—these fall under Kingdom responsibility—the Prime Minister stressed that autonomy does not mean isolation.

“Being part of the Kingdom comes with shared responsibilities,” he said. “Our people expect us to be vigilant, to ensure their safety, and to speak up when developments in the region affect our island.”

Mercelina described the letter to the Kingdom as part of a broader effort to make Sint Maarten an active participant in regional and Kingdom security planning, not merely an observer.

“We must stay ahead of developments,” he concluded. “That is what responsible leadership demands.”

Background

The U.S. Navy’s increased Caribbean activity—reported by international outlets such as Reuters and The Associated Press—includes heightened patrols, intelligence-sharing, and counternarcotics operations across the region.
Venezuela, in turn, has reinforced its coastal defense zones, raising concerns of potential miscalculation or maritime incidents near Caribbean territories.

Sint Maarten’s government has not reported any direct encounters or incidents involving military vessels near its waters. However, officials say the rapidly changing regional landscape underscores the need for proactive diplomacy, readiness, and unity within the Kingdom.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina says Sint Maarten must make “strong decisions” to achieve true socioeconomic progress, acknowledging that the island’s current government system is “too heavy for our population size.”

“We have built a system that looks impressive on paper,” he said, quoting from his recent speech at the Governor’s Symposium, “but financially and functionally it is too heavy for our population.”

The Prime Minister admitted that Sint Maarten has never produced a balanced budget in its 15 years of autonomy.

“I am the eighth or ninth Prime Minister to face the same reality,” he said. “We were not able to balance our budget or have sufficient capital expenditure for nation-building.”

Fiscal Reform and Revenue Growth

To bridge the gap, Mercelina said the government must raise revenues and control expenditures.

“We have to continue working on revenues for government,” he said. “That means tax reform and new revenue streams such as a tourist levy, while also being very sharp on our expenses.”

However, he emphasized that fiscal discipline alone is not enough.

“We need a third alternative,” Mercelina explained. “Otherwise, we will always keep fixing the same two things—revenue and expenses—that have never given the results we hoped for.”

That “third alternative,” he said, is a strategic vision for economic partnerships—regionally and within the Kingdom—to lift Sint Maarten’s socioeconomic status.

Regional Cooperation

The Prime Minister also highlighted closer cooperation with the French side of the island. He said quarterly meetings with French Préfet Cyrille Le Vély have been established to strengthen coordination on emergency management, public safety, and disaster preparedness.

“We are one island and one people,” he said. “This uniform approach will ensure both sides of the island respond in harmony during severe weather events.”

Mercelina also confirmed plans to attend Suriname’s 50th Independence Anniversary in November, representing Sint Maarten within the Kingdom delegation, and to explore agriculture and trade cooperation with the Surinamese government.

“Suriname is more advanced in agriculture,” he said. “We want to explore how we can develop direct cooperation for importing agricultural products to Sint Maarten.”

The Prime Minister described his leadership approach as both realistic and forward-looking.

“Until now, with the conditions and situation that we’re in, I do not see that independence can provide the care our people need,” he said. “So we must find another way to elevate our country.”

Mercelina said his government’s focus is to stabilize finances, modernize governance, and improve living standards—while nurturing a broader vision of Sint Maarten as a confident, collaborative partner within the Caribbean and the Kingdom.

“We must be honest with our people,” he concluded. “We have challenges, but we also have opportunities—and it is our duty to make the right choices now to build a stronger Sint Maarten.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina says Sint Maarten must redefine its relationship with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, calling for a new model based on mutual respect, equality, and co-ownership rather than dependency or token participation.

“We have to base our Kingdom relationship not on similarities, but on differences,” Mercelina said. “If we acknowledge that we are different people, living in different conditions, that will make a totally different dynamic.”

Speaking passionately during the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing, the Prime Minister outlined his vision for a “second chance” for Sint Maarten within the Kingdom, where collaboration would be built on shared responsibility.

“I don’t want Sint Maarten to remain just a stakeholder with a passport,” he said. “I want to feel that we are co-owners of the Kingdom.”

Examples of Co-Ownership

Mercelina illustrated the idea with practical examples.

“Why can’t we have university faculties from Dutch universities located in Sint Maarten, Curaçao, or Aruba?” he asked. “That wouldn’t be to help my people—it would be to strengthen the Kingdom. A student from Groningen could start a year in Sint Maarten, and my John could start a year in Groningen. Both would wake up feeling proud to belong to one Kingdom.”

He also proposed that the Dutch Navy base in Sint Maarten be transformed into a Kingdom-wide educational and training center, providing discipline and employment for young people.

“Let our young people wear two flags on their sleeves—one for Sint Maarten and one for the Kingdom,” he said. “That is what co-ownership looks like.”

Equality Across the Kingdom

Mercelina urged that education, healthcare, and justice across the Kingdom be raised to equal standards.

“The King should be able to look at his Kingdom and say: my people, wherever they live, have access to the same quality of healthcare, education, and justice,” he said. “That is equality.”

While emphasizing that Sint Maarten remains autonomous, he insisted that partnership—not isolation—is key to progress.

“Even the biggest nations seek alliances,” he said. “It’s logical that a small country like ours should stop pretending we can do it alone.”

Mercelina said he is willing to initiate dialogue on redefining the Kingdom relationship but stressed it would be a long-term process requiring parliamentary and public support.

“A mindset change takes time,” he said. “But I am ready to start this evolution in our relationship within the Kingdom.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina says the government of Sint Maarten remains “fully engaged” with NV GEBE to ensure accurate billing, fair pricing, and tangible relief for residents still struggling with high electricity costs.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, Dr. Mercelina acknowledged ongoing public frustration over billing inaccuracies that date back to the 2022 cyberattack on GEBE’s systems.

“I hear the same complaints that the people do,” he said. “There is still some unhappiness concerning the inaccuracy of bills, and constantly I am attending the Supervisory Board about the information that I’m receiving.”

The Prime Minister said GEBE has assured government it is “working constantly” to improve its billing accuracy. While not directly involved in company management, Mercelina reminded the public of his role as shareholder representative.

“I am not GEBE management,” he explained. “But as a shareholder, I communicate my concerns and vision through the Supervisory Board, which is responsible for ensuring that the company executes corrective action.”

New Generators and Dutch Loan

Mercelina also confirmed that GEBE is negotiating directly with Wärtsilä, the Finnish energy manufacturer, to purchase new megawatt generators, financed through a €42 million loan from the Netherlands.

“We are now negotiating on the purchase of the generators,” he said. “Given GEBE’s long history with Wartsila, and its technical expertise with that brand, it was decided to go directly to the manufacturer.”

The loan carries a 2.43% interest rate, repayable over 25 years, and includes an additional €1 million for technical assistance and project oversight.

“That money will guide the entire technical process until the generators are installed,” Mercelina said.

He added that GEBE continues to absorb fuel-cost differences to shield consumers from rising diesel prices.

Relief for Vulnerable Households

Turning to relief efforts, Mercelina confirmed that GEBE’s NAf 600,000 assistance program—developed with the Department of Social Affairs—is already providing financial help to the island’s most vulnerable.

“That initiative came from GEBE itself,” he said. “It’s meant to help those most challenged with paying their electricity bills, in cooperation with Social Affairs, who know who the most vulnerable are.”

Beyond that, government is designing a second-tier relief program for low- and middle-income earners.

“We are now working on criteria to help the group just above the most vulnerable,” the Prime Minister explained. “It’s complex, but we’re determined to make it happen.”

Mercelina emphasized that while short-term relief is underway, structural reform is essential.

“Until we have a regulator, GEBE has the freedom to set tariffs,” he said, confirming that BTP will become the official regulator for electricity tariffs to ensure “transparent and reliable pricing” in the future.