~Minister Marinka Gumbs promises structural reforms, stronger financial discipline, healthcare overhaul, and active oversight of government-owned companies~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs used the opening of Parliament's Central Committee meeting on Friday to acknowledge years of delays in the country's budget process while pledging that the 2026 National Budget would be the last to arrive late under her leadership.

Presenting what she described as a historic shift in the way St. Maarten manages public finances, Gumbs admitted that the delayed submission of the budget was unacceptable but insisted that the government has now fundamentally restructured the budgeting process to prevent similar delays in the future.

"This budget is being presented later than it should have been," Gumbs told Parliament.

"I want to be clear. While this is not a new phenomenon, I intend that it will be the last time a national budget is presented this late under my leadership."

Rather than blaming previous administrations, Gumbs accepted responsibility for correcting what she described as long-standing structural weaknesses in government.

"I offer no excuses, nor do I seek to assign blame. I take full ownership of my role and responsibility as Minister of Finance."

She acknowledged that deadlines had not been consistently enforced, accountability had been insufficient, and coordination between ministries had often broken down, contributing to repeated delays over many years.

First Policy-Based Budget in St. Maarten's History

Central to the Minister's presentation was what she described as the first policy-based budget ever produced by the Government of St. Maarten.

Unlike previous budgets that largely focused on online-item expenditures such as salaries, utilities, and office supplies, the new approach is designed to connect every government dollar directly to policy objectives and measurable outcomes.

According to Gumbs, Parliament will now be better equipped to evaluate whether ministries are actually delivering on their promises rather than merely spending allocated funds.

"We are no longer simply presenting expenditures," she explained.

"We are explaining why resources are being allocated, what concrete outcomes we expect to achieve for the people, and how every single guilder aligns with our strategic policy objectives."

She described the transition as "a massive leap forward" that shifts government from short-term spending toward long-term planning while giving taxpayers a clearer understanding of how public money is being used.

Credit Given to Former Finance Minister Ardwell Irion

In a notable bipartisan gesture, Gumbs publicly acknowledged MP Ardwell Irion, who previously served as Minister of Finance.

She credited Irion with initiating the transition toward policy-based budgeting during his tenure, saying the current administration had built upon that foundation to produce the 2026 Budget.

"The work laid out the foundation for the reforms we continue today," she said.

The Minister also disclosed that work on the 2027 Budget has already started months earlier than previous years, with ministries engaged well in advance to ensure future budgets are submitted on time.

Operational Surplus Despite Larger Budget

The Minister outlined a significantly expanded fiscal framework for 2026.

Government projects:

• Revenue: CG 646 million
• Operating expenditure: CG 636 million
• Operational surplus: CG 11 million

She emphasized that the government's day-to-day operations will be financed through current revenues rather than borrowing.

At the same time, the government plans to invest CG 164.6 million in capital projects aimed at strengthening infrastructure and economic development.

Those investments will be financed through carefully managed capital borrowing rather than operational borrowing.

"We are borrowing strictly to build, not to cover operational waste," Gumbs declared.

Debt Remains Manageable

Addressing concerns about government borrowing, Gumbs said St. Maarten's debt remains within internationally accepted levels.

According to the Minister, the country's debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline from 43 percent in 2025 to approximately 41 percent in 2026, remaining below the 45 percent level generally regarded as manageable for Caribbean economies.

She nevertheless warned that St. Maarten remains highly vulnerable to external shocks, including global oil prices, geopolitical instability, inflation, climate events and fluctuations in tourism.

The Minister said every dollar required to service government debt has already been included in the operational budget and confirmed that government remains fully compliant with the borrowing standards established by the College financieel toezicht (CFT).

She also announced that government's new CG 42 million capital investment loan will be tied to strict project timelines to ensure borrowed funds are actually utilized instead of sitting idle while interest accumulates—an issue repeatedly criticized by the CFT in previous years.

Healthcare Deficit Described as Greatest Financial Threat

Perhaps the most alarming portion of the Minister's presentation centered on the country's healthcare finances.

Gumbs revealed that the healthcare funds administered by the Social and Health Insurances (SZV) continue to lose approximately CG 35 million annually.

For more than a decade, she said, those losses have been covered by drawing from the reserves of the national pension fund (AOV), creating what has now become an accumulated deficit of approximately CG 500 million.

"If we do not act immediately," she warned, "we are not just risking the collapse of healthcare access—we are risking the collapse of the entire social safety net that our seniors rely on."

To address the crisis, the government plans a three-pronged strategy consisting of:

• Implementation of the Sustainable Affordable Access Healthcare Act (SAHA), formerly referred to as General Health Insurance.
• Introduction of a tourist levy dedicated to supporting the social security system.
• Comprehensive tax reform is designed to broaden the tax base and improve compliance.

Rather than relying on emergency financing, Gumbs said the government intends to implement structural reforms that permanently stabilize healthcare financing.

Government Tightens Grip on State-Owned Companies

The Minister also addressed the financial condition of government-owned companies following observations made by the CFT.

While praising the financial performance of Port St. Maarten, which recorded approximately CG 11.2 million in net profit during 2024, and Princess Juliana International Airport Operating Company, which earned approximately CG 21.1 million following completion of the airport reconstruction, Gumbs acknowledged that other government-owned entities continue facing significant financial challenges.

She specifically identified NV GEBE, TelEm, and Postal Services St. Maarten (PSS) as requiring major reforms.

According to Gumbs, the government intends to abandon what she described as years of passive ownership by introducing:

• mandatory quarterly financial reporting;
• standardized corporate governance requirements;
• dividend policies;
• stronger shareholder oversight; and
• binding restructuring agreements with troubled companies.

For NV GEBE, the government plans stricter operational audits, stronger protection of the electricity grid, and greater investment in renewable energy to reduce long-term generation costs.

For TelEm, the government intends to support modernization efforts aimed at creating a more competitive telecommunications provider.

"We are not going to use taxpayers' money to bail out bad management or reward corporate opacity," the Minister declared.

"The days of passive government ownership are over."

Call for Accountability

Gumbs concluded by describing the 2026 Budget as an honest reflection of both government successes and shortcomings.

She stressed that Parliament now possesses measurable benchmarks against which every ministry can be judged.

"This policy-based budget gives Parliament the precise tools it needs to hold my ministry and all other ministries accountable."

She urged Members of Parliament to engage in constructive debate focused on strengthening public finances rather than political point scoring.

"I do not present this budget as a perfect document," she said.

"But I present it as an honest document."

The Minister's presentation marked the official start of Parliament's examination of the 2026 National Budget, which is expected to dominate parliamentary discussions over the coming weeks as Members scrutinize the country's fiscal priorities, borrowing plans, healthcare reforms and long-term economic strategy.

~Opposition says new process silences debate, reduces transparency and helps Government fast-track late 2026 Budget~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Before Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs had the opportunity to present a single figure from the 2026 national budget, Parliament erupted into one of its most heated procedural battles in recent months, with Opposition Members accusing Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams of attempting to fundamentally change the way Parliament scrutinizes the country's finances.

The dispute was not over taxes, spending, or government priorities. Instead, it centered on how Parliament itself should examine the most important piece of legislation presented each year—the national budget.

What began as a procedural proposal quickly evolved into a fierce constitutional and political debate over parliamentary oversight, transparency, accountability, and the rights of elected Members of Parliament.

At the center of the controversy was Chairlady Wescot-Williams' proposal to require Members of Parliament to submit all budget questions in writing by July 2, have Parliament ratify those questions on July 6, and then forward them to Government for written responses before the public budget debate begins.

Under the proposed timetable, Government would have approximately two weeks to answer the questions, allowing Parliament to reconvene during the July recess if the responses are delivered on time.

For the Opposition, however, the proposal represented far more than a scheduling adjustment.

They argued it fundamentally alters decades of parliamentary practice while reducing opportunities for ministers to publicly defend their budgets before the people of St. Maarten.

Doran: Parliament should not experiment with the country's Most important law

The first major objection came from MP Egbert Jurendy Doran, who reminded Parliament that faction leaders had already discussed the handling of the budget during an earlier meeting and had left with the understanding that another approach would be followed.

Instead, Members were now presented with an entirely different proposal.

Doran questioned whether Parliament was attempting to solve the government's administrative shortcomings by weakening parliamentary scrutiny.

He revealed that he still has seven to eight unanswered parliamentary letters, some dating back more than a year, and questioned why Members should believe the Government would suddenly respond promptly to hundreds of detailed budget questions.

"We're talking about a Budget that is already super late," Doran argued.

According to him, removing the traditional opportunity for Members to seek immediate clarification from ministers amounts to "a gross infringement" of parliamentary rights.

He warned that Parliament was effectively using the country's most important legislation as a "pilot project."

Later in the debate, Doran again challenged the Chair, questioning how Members could raise issues omitted from the Minister's presentation if they were only permitted to ask clarification questions before submitting written questions.

He also argued that the proposal appeared designed to fast-track debate while limiting public discussion.

Lewis: Don't Change the Rules for the National Budget

Opposition MP Lyndon Lewis echoed many of those concerns.

While supporting efficiency in principle, Lewis said the annual budget is not the legislation on which Parliament should begin experimenting with new procedures.

He pointed to recent parliamentary meetings where even the Prime Minister failed to answer questions posed by Opposition MPs and argued that reducing opportunities for direct exchanges would only weaken Parliament's oversight role.

Lewis later admitted he was confused by the proposed sequence, asking how Members could submit meaningful questions before hearing detailed presentations from each ministry.

He also criticized the government's poor record in responding to parliamentary correspondence, revealing that he still has approximately 50 unanswered questions submitted to the Minister of Justice.

"The people's business should be taken seriously," Lewis declared.

Irion: Parliament Exists to Speak

Perhaps the most philosophical criticism came from MP Ardwell Irion, who reminded colleagues that the very word Parliament means "to speak."

Irion suggested Government appeared increasingly reluctant to publicly debate legislation, warning that Parliament was now considering limiting discussion on the country's "heaviest" piece of legislation.

He revealed that he had already written to the Chair warning that the proposal contradicted previous parliamentary reasoning regarding legislative procedures.

Irion also argued that Members currently benefit from an informal second opportunity during Central Committee meetings to obtain clarification from ministers—an opportunity he believes would effectively disappear under the proposed system.

Far from making Parliament more efficient, Irion predicted the proposal would delay approval of the Budget even further, increase pressure on already overworked civil servants, and ultimately reduce accountability.

He formally placed his objection on the parliamentary record.

Later, he questioned whether every future bill—including tax legislation and other major laws—would now be handled under the same process.

"What are we going to do?" Irion asked. "Change the rules every month?"

York: Government cannot ignore basic administration

MP Darryl York delivered one of the debate's most detailed criticisms.

York said Parliament should first ensure Government is capable of performing basic administrative functions before attempting to modernize legislative procedures.

He noted that ministers routinely fail to answer parliamentary letters and that questions submitted in writing are frequently skipped altogether.

"Before we elevate the process of handling the Budget," York argued, "we must first demonstrate that we can execute the fundamentals."

York also warned that replacing live exchanges with written questions would significantly reduce transparency because most citizens follow Parliament through live broadcasts—not by reading official documents placed online.

He further criticized what he described as Parliament's inability to properly plan its own work, saying Members continually receive schedules at the last minute while ministers know well in advance what they are expected to do.

According to York, the proposal leaves Members uncertain about when they will question ministers individually and how they will obtain technical explanations for each ministry's budget.

"We continue operating on a wait-and-see basis," York complained. "That is not how Parliament should function."

Lacroes Questions whether the proposal is even permissible

Adding a legal dimension to the debate, MP Francisco Lacroes cited Article 95 of Parliament's Rules of Order, arguing that Parliament may only deviate from established procedures when there is no objection from Members.

Since several MPs had already voiced opposition, Lacroes questioned why the proposal was still being discussed at all.

His intervention shifted part of the debate from politics to parliamentary law.

Coalition MPs Back Chair's Proposal

Coalition Members Dimar Labega, Viren Kotai, Franklin Meyers, Veronica Jansen-Webster, and Sjamira Roseburg generally supported the Chair's proposal, although several stressed that Government must respond to questions promptly.

Roseburg emphasized that her support depended entirely on receiving complete answers to parliamentary questions before the public debate.

Jansen-Webster questioned whether Parliament sometimes overlooked answers already provided by ministers and suggested better use of parliamentary transcripts.

Myers argued that Parliament cannot continue operating exactly as it has in the past if it expects greater efficiency, while acknowledging that Government must improve the timely submission of future budgets.

Chair Rejects Claims of Rights Violations

Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams spent considerable time responding to nearly every criticism.

She rejected claims that Members' rights were being infringed, insisting the proposal does not violate Parliament's Rules of Order.

She reminded Members that faction leaders' meetings are informal discussions and do not make binding parliamentary decisions.

Wescot-Williams also rejected suggestions that Parliament was attempting to fast-track the budget, stating that the problems surrounding the 2025 budget arose for entirely different reasons.

The Chair further argued that Members would not lose any rights because Government cannot proceed to a public budget debate until it formally answers Parliament's written questions.

If Government fails to respond, she explained, Parliament simply cannot continue consideration of the budget.

She also noted that the budget document already exceeds 300 pages and contains detailed ministry explanations available both to Members and to the public through Parliament's website.

Rather than requiring ministers to repeat information already contained in the document, she argued that Members should use the written process to identify the issues requiring further clarification before the public debate.

Wescot-Williams concluded by proposing that Parliament submit all questions by July 2, ratify them on July 6, give Government roughly two weeks to respond and then begin the public budget debate during Parliament's summer recess if all responses are received.

Political Battle Begins Before Budget Debate

Ironically, the first major battle over the 2026 Budget had nothing to do with government spending, tax policy, education, healthcare or infrastructure.

Instead, Parliament spent nearly an hour debating how the Budget should be debated.

The exchange exposed deep divisions between coalition and opposition MPs over transparency, accountability and parliamentary procedure.

With the 2026 Budget already months behind schedule, Friday's confrontation demonstrated that the political battle over the country's finances had begun well before Minister Marinka Gumbs presented the first page of Government's financial plan.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Growing concern over the increasing number of motorcycle and scooter accidents once again dominated discussions in Parliament on Friday, as Members warned that reckless riding is placing both riders and motorists in constant danger.

The renewed warnings came just days after several serious scooter accidents across the island and only weeks after multiple fatal crashes involving motorcycle riders.

MP Lyndon Lewis recounted a frightening experience from the previous evening, describing how he narrowly avoided striking a young motorcyclist who suddenly entered his path.

"Last night I too would have had to give up myself for hit and run," Lewis said, explaining that the rider was traveling from Madam Estate while he was driving toward Dutch Quarter.

"He would have ended up under my vehicle."

Lewis used the incident to issue a direct appeal to young riders.

"I'm asking these young motorists to please take your life seriously," he said, noting that the near collision occurred around 10:00 p.m.

The concerns were echoed by MP Egbert Jurendy Doran, who described the situation as nothing short of a national crisis.

"My colleague mentioned about the bike rider crisis—I would call it that—we have on Saint Martin," Doran told Parliament.

Doran reminded Parliament that he has repeatedly appealed to government to take stronger action and even suggested organizing a National Day of Prayer as a way to encourage reflection and unity during what he described as increasingly difficult times for the country.

"We should have some kind of dialogue and be able to pause and reset as a country," Doran said while calling on government to initiate broader discussions on public safety.

The parliamentary warnings come amid an alarming rise in scooter-related accidents on St. Maarten. In recent weeks, multiple riders have been hospitalized, while several families continue to mourn loved ones killed in motorcycle crashes.

The repeated appeals from Members of Parliament underscore growing public concern that stronger enforcement, improved rider education, and greater personal responsibility are urgently needed before more lives are lost on the island's roads.

Friday's discussion demonstrated that road safety is no longer viewed simply as a traffic issue but as a national concern requiring coordinated action from government, law enforcement, schools, parents, and the wider community.

PHILIPSBURG: --- Members of Parliament on Friday paused the start of the 2026 Budget debate to express heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquake that has left scores of people dead and many others affected.

Several Members of Parliament used their notification time to acknowledge the tragedy and to offer prayers for the Venezuelan people, recognizing the close ties between Sint Maarten and the Venezuelan community living on the island.

MP Sjamira Roseburg was among the first to address the disaster, expressing sincere solidarity with the people of Venezuela and wishing all those affected strength and a swift recovery.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected and we wish them strength and a swift recovery," Roseburg told Parliament before continuing with her other congratulatory messages.

Later in the session, MP Franklin Meyers echoed those sentiments, noting that Venezuela has already endured years of hardship and that another natural disaster would only deepen the suffering of its people.

"In the past couple of years that country has been through a lot, and to be hit with this natural disaster, I can only imagine what it is like and what they are feeling at this particular time," Meyers said while extending his prayers and thoughts to the Venezuelan people.

Other Members of Parliament including Francisco Lacroes also joined his parliamentary colleagues by expressing concern over reports indicating that nearly 200 people had reportedly lost their lives. He said his prayers were not only with those in Venezuela but also with members of the Venezuelan diaspora residing in Sint Maarten.

"I hope that they've gotten in contact with their families and that they could help them in any way possible," Lacroes said.

The expressions of sympathy reflected the strong cultural and family connections that exist between Venezuela and the Caribbean islands, including Sint Maarten, where many Venezuelan nationals have established homes and businesses over the years.

As Parliament proceeded with the national budget discussions, lawmakers first set aside politics to acknowledge the human tragedy unfolding in the neighboring South American nation, sending a united message of compassion and support to those mourning their loved ones.