PHILIPSBURG:--- In a country plagued by rolling blackouts and skyrocketing energy costs, the promise of relief through new generators for NV GEBE has become a cruel joke. Despite securing a €42 million loan from the Dutch government—complete with favorable terms—St. Maarten’s leadership has failed to deliver on its commitments, leaving residents in the dark, both literally and figuratively.

A Loan Secured, But Where Are the Generators?

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina proudly announced the acquisition of a low-interest loan to purchase three much-needed generators. Yet, months later, the generators remain a distant dream. The Dutch government, in its wisdom, attached conditions to the loan, including the installation of a management board at NV GEBE. However, the government has dragged its feet, relying on temporary management and a consultant CFO instead of appointing a permanent team.

Adding insult to injury, the shareholder—St. Maarten’s government has decided they want to put the generator purchase out to tender, a move NV GEBE strongly advised against. This bureaucratic quagmire has further delayed the process, with negotiations reportedly still ongoing with Wartsila. Meanwhile, the people of St. Maarten continue to suffer from unreliable electricity and inflated bills.

Leadership Paralysis and Misplaced Priorities

The government’s inability to act decisively is emblematic of a broader pattern of mismanagement. While Prime Minister Mercelina touts his efforts to stabilize the grid and secure funding, his administration has failed to address the root causes of NV GEBE’s dysfunction. The company has been without a proper management team for over four years, and the government’s promises to appoint a CEO, CFO, and COO remain unfulfilled.

Instead of taking swift action, the government has chosen to engage in endless discussions and legal gymnastics. The Prime Minister’s insistence on balancing transparency with continuity has become a convenient excuse for inaction. As a result, the people of St. Maarten are left to wonder: who is this government really serving?

The Cost of Inaction

The consequences of this leadership vacuum are dire. Families and businesses are grappling with exorbitant energy costs, exacerbated by billing inaccuracies stemming from a 2022 cyberattack on NV GEBE’s systems. While the government claims to be working on relief measures, these efforts have been piecemeal at best. A NAf 600,000 assistance program for vulnerable households is a drop in the ocean compared to the scale of the crisis.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Omar Ottley has taken matters into his own hands, submitting a draft regulation to place electricity costs and fuel pricing under government control. His proposal includes measures to curb unchecked cost pass-throughs and enforce efficiency standards at NV GEBE. Yet, even this initiative highlights the government’s failure to act proactively, forcing MPs to step in where the administration has faltered.

A Nation Deserves Better

The people of St. Maarten deserve more than empty promises and political distractions. They deserve leaders who prioritize their well-being over bureaucratic red tape. The ongoing generator saga is a stark reminder of what happens when leadership fails to rise to the occasion.

As the government continues to fumble, the question remains: how much longer will the people of St. Maarten have to wait for the relief they were promised? Until decisive action is taken, the island’s energy crisis will remain a glaring symbol of its leadership’s shortcomings.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The halls of government are trembling as proposed 2026 budget cuts threaten to shatter the fragile coalition. Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs’s intention to slash funding for key ministries has ignited a political firestorm, with sources revealing that the very stability of the ruling government hangs in the balance.

At the heart of the crisis are proposed cuts to the Ministries of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT), and Justice. The move has drawn a firm line in the sand from Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, who, according to insiders, has issued an ultimatum to the Council of Ministers. She has made it clear that if her ministry's budget is reduced, she will resign—a move that would almost certainly trigger the collapse of the coalition.

The contentious budget discussions, which are still preliminary, have exposed deep rifts within the Council of Ministers. Several ministers are pointing fingers back at the source, urging Minister Gumbs to look inward. They argue that her own Ministry of Finance is drowning in wasteful spending, particularly on a legion of consultants who reportedly do little to benefit the country. "Look within your own ministry," one minister suggested, pointing to the "huge budget she allocated to consultants that actually does nothing."

This internal strife is compounded by widespread criticism of lavish government spending. Another suggestion from within the council is to cut the "extensive travel" budgets enjoyed by certain ministers and their cabinet staff. This sentiment extends to Parliament itself, with calls for Gumbs to reduce its funding. Members of Parliament are accused of benefiting from endless "Parlatino meetings" that fatten politicians' pockets but deliver zero value to the people of Sint Maarten.

The current financial predicament was not unforeseen. Former Minister of Finance and current Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion warned Gumbs last year that without a strategy to generate new revenue, painful cuts to the 2026 budget would be inevitable. That warning, it seems, was ignored.

While the final budget will not be presented to parliament until May, the battle lines are already drawn. The government is facing a crisis of its own making, torn between fiscal austerity and political survival. As ministers trade accusations and the threat of resignations looms, the people of Sint Maarten are left to wonder if their government is more focused on serving the public or on self-preservation. The impending budget cuts are no longer just about numbers; they are a direct challenge to the leadership and stability of the entire nation.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As of 2026, Erik Spek has officially joined HaVen as co-owner. Since October 2025, he has already been part of HaVen as Managing Director. With the formalization of his ownership, the co-directorship with Erik van Engelen is now officially confirmed.
Erik Spek (1973) began his career at Arthur Andersen in Rotterdam and continued at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Sint Maarten and Curaçao. There, he gained extensive experience in accountancy and in supporting companies in the region and Suriname.
After gaining 11 years of experience at major accounting firms in the Netherlands, Sint Maarten, and Curaçao, Erik transitioned to the banking sector, where he held several roles at DVB Bank over 14 years in Curaçao, Singapore, and the Netherlands. He started as Team Head in the back office in Curaçao, leading an accounting team. After several years in this role, he went on to hold various positions within DVB, building expertise in credit, portfolio management, and financial analysis. He later served as Financial Controller at COUNT Energy Trading in Rotterdam.
With his broad background in accountancy, controlling, and international finance, Erik Spek now applies his knowledge and experience to further shape the growth of HaVen in Bonaire, Sint Maarten, Suriname, and the Netherlands.
“At HaVen, we are building a firm that is close to entrepreneurs while maintaining an international perspective. Returning to the islands feels like a natural step. Together with Erik van Engelen and our team, I look forward to shaping the next phase of HaVen’s growth in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.”
— Erik Spek, Co-Owner HaVen – Audit, Accounting & Consultancy

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has issued a call for renewed national purpose in the new year, urging citizens and leadership alike to embrace responsibility, participation, and respect for Sint Maarten as the foundation for progress.

“As we enter a new year, hope and resilience remain important,” Wescot-Williams said. “But this moment also calls for realism and responsibility. Progress does not come from waiting or commentary; it comes from commitment, effort, and participation.”

She stressed that respect for Sint Maarten must begin at home.

“Respect for Sint Maarten is not something we demand of others first,” she stated. “It begins with how we govern, how we engage as citizens, how we protect our country, and how seriously we take the responsibility of nationhood.”

According to Wescot-Williams, Sint Maarten has the capacity to move forward, but only if there is a collective will and a shared sense of direction.

“We have what it takes,” she said. “The question is whether we have what it takes. And that answer lies with all of us, government and society together.”

In that context, Wescot-Williams announced the launch of a reflective call titled “Imagine This,” a separate message intended to encourage national dialogue around what Sint Maarten could become if it commits to a shared vision and acts on it collectively.

“‘Imagine This’ is about visualizing a Sint Maarten that respects itself and moves forward together,” she explained. “It is not about slogans. It is about responsibility, action, and participation.”

“I am inviting members of the community to share their own ‘Imagine This’ ideas, what they believe a respectful, forward-moving Sint Maarten should look like, and what we must do to get there. These ideas matter, and they belong in the national conversation.”

Wescot-Williams reaffirmed that she continues to serve within a political coalition consciously and responsibly, guided by the enduring values and principles of the party she represents. Her parliamentary focus for the year ahead, she said, will remain on collective forward movement, amplifying district voices, pressing for decisive parliamentary action on the course of government, and strengthening accountability so that power consistently serves the public interest.

She concluded with a call to action.

“This must be the year we stop waiting, stop excusing, and stop standing on the sidelines,” Wescot-Williams said. “Respect for Sint Maarten requires all of us to do our part.”

Always moving forward. Always progressing.