PHILIPSBURG:--- During Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing (November 12, 2025), Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina provided updates on his recent meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, focusing on humanitarian aid to Jamaica and the Kingdom’s position on Caribbean regional tensions.
Kingdom Extends Support to Jamaica After Hurricane Devastation
Prime Minister Mercelina shared that, following the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Irma’s recent passage over Jamaica, he had requested that the Kingdom of the Netherlands assist Jamaica in its recovery efforts.
“Seeing the aftermath of the destruction, and realizing that we have a great Jamaican diaspora here in St. Martin, I requested the Minister of Foreign Affairs for us as a Kingdom to do our part in assisting Jamaica,” he said.
Mercelina confirmed that the Royal Netherlands Navy ship Pelican arrived in Jamaica on November 4, 2025, carrying humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and other essential supplies.
“The warship Pelican arrived in Jamaica delivering a lot of goods, and after delivering the first batch, it left again for Barbados to refill and return to assist the people of Jamaica,” Mercelina explained.
He praised the collaborative effort, noting that the mission was coordinated with the Prime Ministers of Curaçao and Aruba, who also participated in the virtual meeting with the Dutch Foreign Minister.
“I’m very thankful to the whole Kingdom for their contribution to Jamaica, realizing that the Jamaicans living here in St. Martin form part of our nation,” he added.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister reiterated his belief that immigrant workers are vital to St. Maarten’s social and economic development.
“Immigrants are a great contributor to the society of St. Maarten on all levels,” he said.
“They contribute to the labor sector and also in the economy by living and spending here.”
Mercelina acknowledged challenges in immigration management, citing limited border control capacity and complex administrative systems. He emphasized that better organization and coordination between immigration and labor enforcement are key to ensuring that workers—particularly in construction—are not exploited.
“I am against the fact that there are still groups of workers being misused—working and not being paid,” he stated.
“That is because the system is not well organized. We have to organize immigration and labor regulation properly.”

Possible Future Legalization Program
When asked whether the government would consider a new Brooks Tower Accord-style legalization process for undocumented residents, the Prime Minister said the idea has been discussed in the Council of Ministers.
“I’m not against it,” he said, “but we must first organize our immigration system, so we don’t have to repeat the process every few years.”
He stressed that if such a program is introduced, it must be accompanied by a solid legal and control framework to ensure long-term stability.

Addressing Structural Challenges
Mercelina also acknowledged structural inconsistencies that make it difficult for undocumented workers to become legal, even when they attempt to register and pay taxes.
“That is the challenging framework that I’m talking about,” he said.
“To obey the law, you need people who can execute and enforce it. We do not have enough personnel to give follow-up to the law, and that’s a challenge we must solve.
Despite the complexity, the Prime Minister ended on a note of optimism:
“We have a lot of problems, but we will get there one day with this country—believe me.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Patrice Gumbs Jr., recently announced several key infrastructure and housing initiatives aimed at sustainable development on St. Maarten. The announcements include major road rehabilitation on Billy Folly Road and a public consultation for the St. Maarten Wastewater Management Project.
Minister Gumbs confirmed that roadworks on Billy Folly Road, commonly known as Pelican Road, will commence on Thursday, November 13th. The project, executed by Wynwood Road's infrastructure, is expected to be completed by Friday, December 5th, pending favorable weather conditions. A partial one-lane road closure will be in effect from Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., for the duration of the works.
This project is a notable example of a public-private partnership, with a coalition of local businesses and stakeholders contributing $496,500 to supplement the government's $94,000 investment. "In the governing program's entry for VROMI, private-public partnerships are regarded as vital for the future development of St. Martin," Gumbs stated, expressing gratitude for the stakeholders' commitment to corporate social responsibility. He noted that similar initiatives for other infrastructure projects are currently being negotiated.
Additionally, the Minister invited all residents to a public consultation for the St. Maarten Wastewater Management Project (SWMP). The event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 10th, at 6 p.m. at the Bel Air Community Centre. This $25 million project, co-funded by the St. Maarten Trust Fund and the government, aims to expand the sewage network, particularly in the Cul-de-Sac area.
The goal is to reduce reliance on septic tanks and enhance the operation of the ATLH Road Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project will "support protecting public health and safeguard St. Maarten's surface water, groundwater and coastal areas from pollution, helping to preserve the island's natural environment and support a sustainable tourism economy," said Minister Gumbs. He emphasized that public feedback is vital to shaping the project's final design.
On the housing front, the Minister confirmed that the government is awaiting the transfer of funds from the Netherlands for the purchase of a parcel of land known as Remainder Belvedere Estate. In anticipation of the funding, the necessary advice for the purchase is being processed for approval. Minister Gumbs also noted that the new housing policy is nearing finalization and regular meetings with the Housing Foundation are ongoing to address inventory and future projects.

PHILIPSBURG:--- At Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina addressed ongoing discussions between the Government of St. Martin and the Fire and Ambulance Department, represented by the WICSU/PSU union.

The Prime Minister began by emphasizing that the relationship between the government and the Fire Department remains cooperative, despite public perception of tension.

“From the side of government, there is no hard feeling, no tension toward the Fire and Ambulance Department. On the contrary, this government realizes that for years there has been neglect of these hardworking people,” said Dr. Mercelina.

He outlined three main issues under discussion with the union:

1. The Function Book,
2. The Placement Process, and
3. Retroactive Payment.

Government Agreement on All Three Issues

Dr. Mercelina confirmed that the government has agreed to all three union requests and has communicated this formally.

“In letters dated October 24th, November 5th, and today, November 12th, I have clearly stated the government’s agreement to accept the Function Book, to carry out the placement process, and to realize the retroactive payment,” he said.

The Function Book

According to the Prime Minister, the Function Book process began before his tenure and was approved through the official CCSU platform involving the unions and government. It was published in February 2025, making it the current lawful framework for civil servants, including the Fire Department.

Although some workers later expressed concerns, Dr. Mercelina agreed to revisit the Function Book but cautioned that doing so could delay the placement and retroactive payment processes. After discussion, both sides agreed to maintain the February 2025 Function Book for now, with a review scheduled within three years.

“They decided to accept the current Function Book under the condition that we revisit it within the coming three years. I agreed with that too,” he confirmed.

Placement Process

The placement of employees depends on the Function Book and must be executed within a legal framework. The Prime Minister announced that he has already signed the necessary landsbesluit (national decree) to establish both a placement committee and an objection committee, which will ensure that employees are fairly evaluated and placed.

“Last Friday I signed the advice for the national decree, and this morning the full dossier was sent to the Governor for ratification,” he stated.

Retroactive Payment

Dr. Mercelina confirmed that the government has also agreed to provide retroactive payments to eligible Fire Department personnel.

“We are going to agree with the request of the Fire Department for the retroactive payment for those who are eligible,” he said.

He explained that after the placement process, there will be a claim process to determine each worker’s entitlement and the applicable retroactive period.

Union’s Request for a Commitment Letter

The Prime Minister addressed the Fire Department’s demand for a separate “commitment letter”, despite multiple letters already sent on official letterhead bearing his signature and the government’s seal.

“If the Prime Minister’s signed letters on official letterhead, carrying the government stamp and stating the word ‘commit,’ are not considered a commitment, then we are undermining trust and the recognition of how people should communicate in good faith,” he said.

Dr. Mercelina reiterated that his letters dated October 24th, November 5th, and November 12th already constitute a formal and binding commitment by the government to fulfill all three requests.

Financial and Legal Process

Prime Minister Mercelina clarified that financial approval was obtained from the Minister of Finance before making commitments regarding retroactive payments.

“Before I can commit to such a demand as retroactive payment, the first person that I have to consult is the Minister of Finance. After agreement with the Minister of Finance, we decided to agree with the request of the Fire Department,” he confirmed.

He added that while formal Council of Ministers approval and Governor ratification are still in process, the necessary legal framework is already in motion.

Prime Minister’s Closing Message

Dr. Mercelina concluded by reaffirming that his government is fully committed to resolving the outstanding issues with the Fire and Ambulance Department.

“This government is fully committed to accommodating and working on all the demands requested by the Fire Department. Considering the clear and consistent commitments made, I do not think there is justification for a continuation of the go-slow,” he said.