PHILIPSBURG:--- During a Question Hour initiated by Member of Parliament Egbert J. Doran, it was confirmed that although Parliament passed a motion proposed by MP Doran calling for monthly financial support for displaced Philipsburg Marketplace vendors based on minimum wage considerations, the relief implemented by the Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger Marten, amounts to 100 guilders per month per vendor through waived fees.

MP Doran’s questions focused on the progress of the Marketplace reconstruction and the situation of displaced vendors who were relocated by the government to facilitate the project. In her responses, Minister Heyliger Marten confirmed that almost 500k guilders have already been paid to the contractor, even though the initial groundbreaking took place about a year and a half ago and construction has not progressed beyond preparatory works. The foundation phase has not yet begun, and a firm completion date cannot be provided.

The Minister maintained that the project remains on track procedurally under the FIDIC Yellow Book framework, despite the absence of active construction.

The contrast highlighted during the Question Hour was clear. The motion passed during the 2025 Budget recognized that displaced vendors were moved by government action and called for meaningful monthly support until they could return to a completed marketplace.

However, during Question Hour, it was confirmed that no stipend or income-replacement support has been implemented. The only relief currently in place is the waiver of vendor fees, translating into 100 guilders per month, despite displaced vendors operating from temporary locations with limited foot traffic and reduced income.

MP Doran also referenced earlier statements by the Minister indicating that she would work with the Ministry of Finance to explore additional financial relief options. During the Question Hour, the Minister stated that she was unable to provide an update on the status of those discussions.

MP Doran raised concerns about how the project's changes were handled.
He explained that when the scope of work or Bill of Quantities is changed, the project is no longer the same as what was initially approved or tendered.

Under the FIDIC Yellow Book, these are considered significant (or material) changes, not minor adjustments. Such changes must be properly reviewed, documented, and formally approved, because they directly affect the project’s cost, schedule, and delivery.

Importantly, if the change is substantial enough to alter the original tender conditions, it should go back out for a new tender to ensure fair competition, transparency, and equal opportunity for all bidders.

According to MP Doran, the Marketplace project had already been approved, signed off on, and contractually secured prior to his departure from office. Instead of proceeding with construction, changes to the scope resulted in delays and displaced vendors being left in prolonged uncertainty, without a clear timeline for when they can return to a functioning marketplace.

PHILIPSBURG:--- In a parliamentary session yesterday, Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs took the floor to address ongoing concerns surrounding the draft National Ordinance on Basic Payment Accounts. While the Minister presented updates on financial matters, including the much-touted 30.3 million guilder CAPEX loan, her appearance left many questions unanswered and raised eyebrows over the handling of critical issues.
The session, part of Public Meeting No. 11 for the 2024-2025 Parliamentary Year, was marked by delays, adjournments, and a lack of clear direction. Despite the Minister’s claims of progress, including securing funds for housing development and infrastructure upgrades, critics argue that the session exposed glaring inefficiencies in the legislative process and a lack of urgency in addressing pressing financial challenges.

One of the key points of contention was the draft National Ordinance on Basic Payment Accounts, a bill aimed at promoting financial inclusion. While the Minister assured Parliament that the ordinance would close the gap for those excluded from the economic system, her responses to questions about inequality and digital banking services were seen as evasive. Members of Parliament repeatedly pressed for clarity on why certain safeguards, such as explicit wording on lawful registration, were omitted from the draft, leaving banks in a state of uncertainty.
The Minister’s update on the CAPEX loan, while framed as a victory, also drew criticism. The funds, earmarked for projects like the prison completion and land acquisition for housing, were secured at an interest rate of 3.52% over 30 years. While this was presented as a positive step, skeptics questioned whether the government’s priorities align with the immediate needs of the population, particularly as the island grapples with economic challenges.

Further complicating matters, the session revealed a lack of coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. Amendments proposed by MPs were met with feedback from the Central Bank that highlighted errors, redundancies, and unnecessary additions. This back-and-forth has delayed the legislative process, with the Minister now requesting additional time to review revised amendments—a move that some see as yet another example of bureaucratic inefficiency.
The Minister’s handling of questions about digital banking services also came under fire. While she acknowledged the importance of modernization, her insistence that these issues would be addressed in future legislation left many wondering why they were not incorporated into the current draft. This piecemeal approach, critics argue, undermines the government’s commitment to financial inclusion and modernization.

As the session adjourned, it became clear that the road ahead for the draft National Ordinance is fraught with challenges. With the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s plenary meeting looming in May 2026, the government faces mounting pressure to demonstrate progress on legislative priorities. However, yesterday’s session did little to inspire confidence in the Minister’s ability to navigate these complexities.
Minister Gumbs may have secured a loan and presented a vision for financial inclusion, but her parliamentary appearance has left many questioning whether her leadership is up to the task. As the island waits for action, the clock is ticking—and patience is wearing thin.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is investigating an incident that occurred just before 3:30 PM on Front Street during a routine police patrol.
While on patrol, officers observed a dark gray Changan vehicle occupied by four individuals: three males and one female. The car was stopped for control. During the control, one male passenger attempted to flee the scene. He was pursued, later apprehended, and arrested by responding officers on Back Street.
While officers were engaged with the remaining three occupants who stayed at the vehicle, an unknown male, later identified as the owner of the car, approached, entered the vehicle, removed what appeared to be a firearm, and fled the area via the Boardwalk.
Following an intensive search, the suspect was located later that evening. During a subsequent search of his residence, officers discovered and seized a firearm, identified as a ghost gun.
All suspects involved in this incident are currently being held at the police station pending further investigation.
KPSM emphasizes its continued commitment to public safety and urges the community to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police.

KPSM Press Release.

PHILIPSBURG:--- While the government continues to offer assurances about the future of GEBE, residents and businesses across St. Maarten are left grappling with an unreliable power supply and a distinct lack of concrete progress. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina told Parliament on Monday that he intended to clarify the path forward. Still, he has instead illuminated a troubling pattern of stalled initiatives, financial dependencies, and a glaring absence of urgency.
For years, the prospect of transitioning to cleaner and more stable Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has been dangled as a long-term solution. Now, the government confirms this vision is effectively off the table. Citing a Trust Fund-financed study, officials state the "substantial additional capital costs" for storage, port upgrades, and infrastructure make the move unviable. This admission raises serious questions about the foresight and planning of previous administrations and whether the public was sold a pipe dream while the existing infrastructure was left to decay.
The government's current strategy appears to be a reactive scramble rather than a proactive plan. A formal letter was sent on June 17, 2025, requesting a "high-level overview of long-term maintenance" from GEBE. That such a fundamental assessment is only being requested now, in the midst of ongoing grid instability, suggests a profound failure in oversight and management. The focus has been reduced to mere "grid stabilization," a low bar that tacitly accepts the status quo of inconsistent electricity.
Instead of a bold energy revolution, St. Maarten is being offered a bailout. The solution presented is a "capital loan from the Netherlands" to procure additional capacity. While this may provide a temporary fix, it deepens the nation's financial reliance on external entities and fails to address GEBE's core operational and financial mismanagement. The hope that this, combined with consumer and GEBE investments in solar, will suffice for the "next five to ten years" feels less like a strategy and more like a gamble.
Promises of transparency and affordability also fall flat under scrutiny. The government touts mandating BTP to regulate tariffs as a step toward accountability. However, with NV GEBE conducting its own "comprehensive tariff study," citizens are right to be skeptical about whether these measures will lead to genuine relief or simply provide new justification for the high cost of unreliable power.
The official narrative speaks of a vision for a "stable, sustainable, and affordable" energy supply. But for the people of St. Martin, the reality remains one of uncertainty. With the LNG transition abandoned, maintenance plans only now being formulated, and solutions dependent on foreign loans, the government's words provide little comfort. The critical question remains: When will St. Martin see a GEBE that works for its people, not one that is a perpetual drain on their patience and finances?