Eric van der Burg, State Secretary for Interior and Kingdom Relations, paid a working visit to the Savaneta Marine Barracks this afternoon, accompanied by Aruban Prime Minister Eman.

During the visit, they received a briefing on the Aruban Military (ARUMIL) and spoke with young people participating in the Social Development Program (SVT Sociale Vormingstraject).

The Social Development Program (SVT) supports young people aged 17 to 25 who are not attending school or have not yet found a clear direction in life.

Aruba introduced the SVT in 2010 in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense. The program's first phase consists of training in military discipline. ARUMIL officers guide this training at the Savaneta Marine Barracks.

State Secretary Van der Burg’s visit to the Savaneta Marine Barracks is part of his working visit to the ABC Islands. In addition to Aruba, Van der Burg is also visiting Curaçao and Bonaire.

SINT MAARTEN/ ARUBA:--- Member of Parliament and Leader of the National Alliance faction, Egbert J. Doran, has congratulated Wendrick Cicilia on becoming the new leader of the Aruban People’s Party (AVP), marking a significant new chapter in the party’s history.

Cicilia succeeds Aruba’s Prime Minister, Mike Eman, who led the AVP for approximately 25 years. His appointment represents an important transition for one of Aruba’s most established political parties.

MP Doran acknowledged the significance of this milestone and the responsibility that comes with taking the helm of a political organization with such a longstanding history.

“Taking on the leadership of a party with such a rich political history is no small responsibility. It requires vision, determination, and a genuine commitment to the people you serve. I extend my sincere congratulations to Mr. Cicilia on this achievement and wish him every success as he begins this new chapter,” Doran stated.

Doran noted that a leadership change offers an opportunity to build on the foundation laid by those who came before while bringing fresh perspectives and renewed energy to the organization.

“Every new chapter brings its own challenges and opportunities. What matters most is remaining focused on the people, listening to their concerns, and working toward meaningful progress. I trust that Mr. Cicilia will approach this responsibility with the dedication it deserves,” he added.

MP Doran concluded by wishing Cicilia wisdom, strength, and continued success as he assumes his new responsibilities, and by extending his best wishes to the AVP as it moves forward under its new leadership.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina faced repeated questions on Wednesday about whether GEBE should increase consumer relief to reflect alleged excess collections through its fuel clause, while announcing that contracts for new generators could be signed within the coming four weeks.

During the October 14 Council of Ministers press briefing, the Prime Minister said the generator contracts remain under legal review, although the Dutch loan financing is already available in a bank account in Sint Maarten.

On electricity bills, Mercelina defended GEBE’s 1.5 million guilder contribution toward relief for elderly and vulnerable residents. However, the questioning exposed an issue that his responses did not conclusively settle: whether previous fuel-clause collections exceeded the amount required to recover fuel costs, and what that would mean for consumers.

Reporter repeatedly questions fuel-clause collections

The reporter asked whether relief could be increased in light of earlier reports that, according to the question, indicated GEBE had collected more through the fuel clause than necessary.

The question distinguished between the cost of purchasing fuel and the amount recovered from consumers through their electricity bills.

The reporter described the fuel clause as a mechanism intended to pass fuel costs through to consumers and asked why the relief offered was lower than the alleged excess collections identified in previous assessments.

Those assertions were raised during the briefing. The exchange did not present the reports, their figures, or their methodologies.

Mercelina initially responded by emphasizing SOL’s role in determining the fuel costs charged to GEBE.

“The fuel cost is more a matter of SOL than GEBE,” he said.

He pointed to international oil prices and SOL's storage arrangements, saying GEBE must pay the fuel bills it receives and incorporate those costs into electricity tariffs.

Fuel supply costs and consumer billing remain separate questions

The reporter returned to the issue, explaining that the question concerned whether GEBE’s fuel-clause charges were higher than necessary, rather than what SOL charged the utility.

In response, Mercelina referred to the analysis he had commissioned involving BTP and a regulatory counterpart in Curaçao to examine the validity of consumer billing.

He said further work is underway to establish the appropriate formula for calculating the fuel clause and tariffs.

That response acknowledged the need to examine how consumers are billed. It did not establish during the briefing whether excess collections had occurred, their value or whether any amount should be returned.

The distinction remains central to the discussion: explaining the price GEBE pays for fuel does not, by itself, resolve whether the amount collected through the fuel clause accurately reflects the costs it is intended to recover.

Unpaid bills cited against additional relief

Pressed again on whether GEBE could increase relief beyond 1.5 million guilders, Mercelina gave a conditional response.

“If that is the case, that is possible,” he said, before asking how the utility should deal with the millions in outstanding consumer bills.

He argued that revenue reflected in the company’s accounts does not necessarily mean that the corresponding money has been collected. Outstanding payments, he said, affect GEBE’s ability to responsibly provide additional relief.

The Prime Minister reiterated his appreciation for the utility’s existing contribution under difficult circumstances.

However, the exchange did not provide a financial breakdown showing how unpaid bills relate to the alleged excess fuel-clause collections or how the 1.5 million-guilder relief amount was determined.

Without that information, the public cannot assess from the briefing alone whether a larger relief package is financially possible.

Prime Minister asks SOL to contribute

Mercelina said he had also asked SOL to consider contributing toward consumer relief during their recent meeting.

He described GEBE’s contribution as an example and urged the fuel supplier to consider assisting residents facing high electricity costs.

SOL made no commitment, and no contribution amount or implementation date was announced during the question-and-answer session.

The request therefore remains an appeal for assistance rather than an additional relief measure confirmed to the public.

Tariff legislation still moving through approval process

Mercelina said draft legislation is being prepared to provide a framework for regulating tariffs and controlling the margins within which consumers can be billed.

According to his explanation, the draft must proceed through the Council of Ministers, the Council of Advice and Parliament.

He said BTP is engaging with GEBE, SOL, and other stakeholders to review the components of the fuel clause and electricity tariffs and develop a suitable billing formula.

Under the arrangement he described, BTP would provide technical advice to the Minister of TEATT to support tariff decisions.

The Prime Minister did not announce a date for the legislation to reach Parliament or for a revised formula to take effect.

Generator purchase remains under legal review

On the purchase of new generators, Mercelina said three legal teams are reviewing the contracts: one in the Netherlands, one representing GEBE and one representing the government.

He stressed that the transaction involves millions in public funds and requires careful scrutiny.

“We have to make sure that we do not make mistakes in the ordering of the generators,” he said.

Mercelina indicated that signing could take place within the next four weeks, provided the reviewed contract drafts arrive on time.

That is a conditional target for signing. It is not a confirmed delivery or commissioning date.

Although the reporter specifically requested an updated delivery timeline, the Prime Minister did not provide one in his response.

Dutch financing is a loan, not a grant

Asked to clarify the financing arrangement, Mercelina confirmed that the money from the Netherlands is a loan.

He recalled the interest rate as approximately 2.43 percent and said the funds are already held in Sint Maarten.

“We have the money already,” he stated.

The remaining step, he explained, is to finalize a responsible contractual agreement. Payments would then be made in phases according to the contract until the generators are delivered.

His response did not identify the supplier, the number or capacity of the generators, the final purchase price or the detailed payment schedule.

The announcement nevertheless clarified that access to the financing is not the outstanding obstacle he identified. Completion of the contractual review remains the immediate step before signing.

Solar project advances without a firm timetable

The reporter also asked about renewable-energy projects the Prime Minister previously discussed.

Mercelina said restoring reliable electricity was his first priority after the country’s power-supply difficulties. He attributed those problems in part to failures to maintain and replace generators in time.

Alongside restoring conventional generation, he said the government is examining alternative energy options.

One proposal involves installing solar panels on roofing over an existing parking area along Pond Road. The roof would provide shade for vehicles while supporting solar generation.

Mercelina said he had seen drawings for the project but declined to commit to an implementation date without checking the planning.

He also described net-metering policy as an area requiring cooperation between government and GEBE, without announcing a completed policy or adoption timetable.

Consumers await figures and delivery dates

The briefing provided a potential signing window for the generator contracts and confirmed that loan financing is available. It did not set a timeline for when the equipment will arrive or begin supplying electricity.

On the fuel clause, Mercelina outlined regulatory work, defended GEBE’s relief contribution, and pointed to unpaid bills. He did not conclusively answer the repeated question about alleged excess collections.

For consumers, the outstanding information is concrete: the findings of the billing assessments, the basis for the relief amount, the formula to be applied going forward, and the delivery and commissioning schedule for the new generators.

Those details will determine how the government’s announcements translate into more reliable electricity and measurable relief on household and business bills.

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor has warned that Sint Maarten’s cannabis debate must account for mental health, substance abuse and the country’s ability to protect vulnerable residents, rather than focusing primarily on economic opportunities.

Answering questions during the October 14 Council of Ministers press briefing, Connor expressed personal reservations about cannabis legalization but said his ministerial responsibility requires a detailed, informed assessment of any proposed legislation.

He said he has sought assistance from the Pan American Health Organization to examine the effects of cannabis policies and the experiences of comparable Caribbean communities.

His responses did not endorse recreational legalization. They outlined a cautious approach that requires evaluating health and social consequences before making decisions.

Personal experience shapes his caution

Asked directly whether he supports recreational cannabis legalization, Connor spoke about witnessing the effects of substance abuse within his community and family.

“If it was Claret Connor, I would say I would not want it,” he said, while explaining that his role as Minister requires him to consider the broader issues surrounding proposed legislation.

His account concerned substance abuse generally. He did not identify cannabis as the substance involved in those personal experiences.

Connor said that background motivates his professional approach and his insistence that the review be thorough.

“No stone will be left unturned,” he stated.

Mental health consequences cannot be overlooked

The question posed to Connor specifically raised concerns about whether Sint Maarten’s mental health infrastructure could manage the consequences of more prevalent use or easier access to cannabis.

Connor said cannabis had been among his leading discussion topics during his recent engagements at the United Nations General Assembly and PAHO meetings.

He also referred to documentation he has had to sign regularly since taking office concerning people affected by mental health or substance-abuse problems. He did not provide figures, diagnoses or a cannabis-specific breakdown.

The Minister cautioned against approaching the issue primarily from an economic-development perspective.

His remarks raise an important question for policymakers: what services, personnel, and safeguards would be needed to manage the health consequences of any change in access?

PAHO asked to support review

Connor said he has held discussions with PAHO’s Caribbean representatives, including its office in Trinidad, to support an examination of different approaches and experiences.

He described that engagement as an opportunity to use the Ministry’s strategic cooperation with PAHO to inform local decisions.

Each step, he said, must be evaluated for its advantages and disadvantages.

When the reporter suggested a phased approach beginning with medicinal use rather than recreational legalization, Connor reiterated the need for a comprehensive review. He did not announce adoption of that proposal or a timetable for legislation.

Unregulated products carry additional risks

International health guidance supports the need to distinguish the effects of cannabis itself from the additional dangers associated with products whose contents and strength are unknown.

Health Canada warns that illegal cannabis may lack reliable quality controls and contain harmful levels of pesticides, heavy metals, mould, bacteria or cutting agents. Information about THC—the principal intoxicating component—and CBD may also be inaccurate or unavailable.

In Canada’s regulated system, products are subject to testing, potency information, and recall mechanisms. Those safeguards can reduce certain product risks, although they do not make cannabis harmless. These Canadian findings are relevant to the policy discussion; they are not evidence that particular products in St Maarten have been tested or found contaminated. canada.ca

Without reliable testing and labeling, consumers may struggle to know what they are taking or how strong it is. That uncertainty creates an additional challenge for prevention, treatment and public education.

Young people face particular concerns

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that cannabis use during adolescence can harm the developing brain, affecting learning, memory and other functions.

The CDC also reports an association between cannabis use and psychosis, including temporary experiences of paranoia or hallucinations. The association with schizophrenia is stronger among people who begin using cannabis earlier and use it more frequently.

These findings do not mean every person who uses cannabis will develop a psychiatric disorder. They do underline the importance of protecting young people and considering patterns of use when assessing risk. cdc.gov

For Sint Maarten, that evidence makes youth access, prevention and the availability of support central considerations in any proposed framework.

Dependence can affect families, school and work

Cannabis can also lead to cannabis use disorder, in which a person continues using despite health or social problems and has difficulty stopping.

The CDC identifies greater risk among people who start during adolescence and those who use frequently. Warning signs include unsuccessful attempts to quit, neglecting important activities, and continuing use despite problems at home, school, or work.

Highly concentrated THC products are also associated with more severe symptoms of cannabis use disorder. cdc.gov

The consequences can therefore extend beyond an individual episode of intoxication, affecting relationships, responsibilities and the demand for treatment.

Road safety remains a concern

Cannabis can impair reaction time, coordination, perception and decision-making—abilities needed for safe driving.

Using cannabis alongside alcohol can increase impairment. The CDC also notes that cannabis affects brain functions involved in attention, memory, and learning, while smoked cannabis can damage lung tissue. These risks exist regardless of whether a product is legally sold. cdc.gov

Regulation must therefore be assessed alongside prevention and enforcement measures addressing impaired driving and other activities requiring alertness.

Health safeguards must be practical

Taken together, Connor’s remarks and the international evidence point to issues a local assessment would need to address: product testing, accurate labeling, protection of minors, public education, treatment access and the capacity to respond to adverse effects.

Those considerations arise from the evidence, rather than from measures Connor announced as an approved government package.

The Minister did not present a completed health-impact assessment, a mental health capacity plan or a budget for cannabis-related prevention and treatment during the briefing.

His position was nevertheless clear: proposed economic benefits cannot be assessed in isolation from the people who may experience harm.

The next test will be whether the promised review transparently assesses those risks and the resources Sint Maarten would need to manage them before any policy decision is taken.