Works scheduled to begin October 12; VROMI also moves to revive unfinished zoning plans and reminds bidders of the district-cleaning deadline.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Patrice Gumbs Jr. has announced a privately supported repair project valued at just over US$750,000 for the Rolandus Canal in Sucker Garden, acknowledging that residents have spent months contacting his ministry about deteriorating infrastructure and safety concerns.
Speaking at the Council of Ministers press briefing on October 7, Gumbs said the intervention would address erosion along the canal, repair a collapsed section of King of the Seas Road, reinforce areas surrounding seven bridges and install or repair railings.
Works are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 12, and a local contractor will carry them out. The minister said schedules and alternative routes would be published before construction, and residents would be informed of any changes.
Road collapse, erosion and bridge safety
Gumbs described the Rolandus Canal as an important part of Sint Maarten’s stormwater infrastructure, running from Defiance toward Great Bay along the country's eastern side.
Over time, surrounding land has eroded, raising concerns about both the canal’s operation and the safety of nearby residents. The announced intervention will focus on the Sucker Garden area.
According to the minister, the project represents a donation valued at approximately 1.36 million guilders and is the ministry’s third public-private partnership.
Gumbs thanked the supporting developer, identified in the supplied transcript as Cupecoy Development N.V., for agreeing to contribute to infrastructure improvements beyond its own development.
He said his approach to sustainable development requires developers to consider the wider population and support projects that deliver a tangible public benefit.
Residents pressed ministry for action
The minister acknowledged the persistence of Sucker Garden residents, referring to months of WhatsApp calls, messages and legal letters sent to the ministry.
His remarks underscored the lengthy wait for an intervention in an area where erosion and damaged road infrastructure have raised safety concerns.
Gumbs said his commitment to addressing these problems remained, but limited financial resources affected the ministry’s ability to respond.
He presented public-private partnerships as an important way to tackle longstanding infrastructure issues.
Although he announced a start date, his opening remarks did not specify a completion date for the canal works.
Unfinished zoning plans return to the agenda
Gumbs also announced a tender to develop Sint Maarten’s zoning plan, reviving work that began more than a decade ago.
According to the minister, the earlier zoning project produced 13 draft plans between 2011 and 2014. Those plans were not finalized or submitted to Parliament for ratification, partly because of funding constraints.
He said the ministry requested support through the country packages last year and received €350,000 to complete the project.
The intention, he explained, is to build on the existing drafts while assessing whether proposals prepared approximately 12 years ago still reflect the country’s current circumstances and development needs.
Gumbs said zoning should give residents and investors greater certainty about what can be built on a parcel of land, how neighborhoods may develop and whether infrastructure can support developments, including high-rises.
He also argued that clearer planning would make permitting more credible and reduce political influence over development decisions.
“Zoning is therefore a tool and not an obstacle to our collective development,” he said.
Interested parties have until Friday, October 30, 2026, to submit proposals through the channels specified in the tender.
District-cleaning bids close Friday
The minister reminded prospective bidders that submissions for the District Cleaning Tender 2026–2031 close on Friday, October 9.
Bids must be submitted electronically through the government’s eTendering platform in accordance with the tender documents.
The announcement comes as the ministry prepares to award services covering a five-year period.
Dock partnership includes police-station repairs
Gumbs also thanked the GOIA Group and his colleagues in Justice and TEATT for their collaboration on the previously discussed dock rehabilitation partnership.
He emphasized that the initiative extends beyond the dock itself, with significant repairs also planned for the police station’s sewage system and building.
According to Gumbs, the project will benefit police officers as well as the maritime industry, bringing several ministerial responsibilities together in one intervention