~Fire Department Grants 24-Hour Extension for Clarity and Action on Agreement."~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Fire Department personnel of Sint Maarten wish to address the Prime Minister, Dr. Luc Mercelina, 's recent public statement regarding the ongoing situation within the Fire and Ambulance Department.
While we acknowledge the Prime Minister’s confirmation that the matter remains in mediation, it is crucial to highlight that a written agreement has been on the Minister’s desk since January 26, 2026, awaiting formal action.
In the interest of good faith and respect for the mediation process, Fire Department personnel are extending an additional 24 hours for clarity and progress on this matter.
We also feel it necessary to correct the public narrative. The meeting with the Council of Ministers was not initiated by the union, as suggested. It was requested directly by Fire Department personnel, using the union as the formal and required channel. This distinction is significant.
While the Prime Minister implied that the union is “behind all of this,” we want to make one thing abundantly clear:
The union’s strength comes from its members.
Fire Department personnel are not acting impulsively or without understanding. We are skilled, educated, and informed professionals who are fully capable of making decisions about our careers, rights, and futures. The union does not act independently of us—it acts with us, under our direction and mandate.
Our approach remains measured, lawful, and focused on solutions. We respect the mediation process and the institutions involved, but we also expect the same level of seriousness, transparency, and urgency in return.
We are committed to dialogue, fairness, and resolution, while standing firmly by the agreements that have already been reached and documented.
