WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- The construction sectors in Curaçao and Sint Maarten are navigating a complex landscape of growth and rising costs, according to the 2025 Construction Survey Report released by the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS). While real output has surged in both nations, distinct differences in economic sentiment and operational hurdles are shaping the year ahead.

Robust Growth Amidst Operational Hurdles

According to CBCS estimates, the construction industry saw significant expansion, with real output in Curaçao growing by 9.6% and in Sint Maarten by 9.5%.

Despite this strong performance, the sector remains dominated by small players. The survey reveals that micro-enterprises account for the majority of the industry in both countries, with approximately 75% of companies employing fewer than five full-time staff members. Only a small fraction—6%—operate with more than fifty employees.

Activity is largely concentrated in general construction for residential and commercial buildings, followed by finishing work and infrastructure projects. However, the reliance on foreign resources is heavy. Nearly half of the surveyed companies (44%) reported importing construction-related products or services, leaving the sector vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and price volatility.

The Labor Crisis

The most pressing challenge facing the industry is a severe shortage of skilled labor. Over half of the construction companies surveyed (54%) reported difficulty finding workers, and 81% rated recruiting skilled professionals as "difficult" or "very difficult."

The shortage is most acute in specialized trades. About 78% of respondents reported difficulty hiring electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. This labor gap was identified by nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) as the primary obstacle to business operations, prompting calls for initiatives to strengthen the local skilled labor pool.

Rising Costs and Price Pressures

Financial pressures are intensifying for 2025. A majority of firms (58%) anticipate higher price levels compared to the previous year. This is driven by a combination of factors:

• Material Costs: A clear majority of firms expect material prices to rise, with over two-thirds predicting an increase of 5% or more.
• Transportation: Over half of respondents anticipate hikes in international shipping costs, while nearly two-thirds expect local transportation expenses to climb.
• Financing: One-third of companies expect an increase in annual financing costs.

Consequently, consumers can expect these costs to be passed down. More than half of respondents anticipate price increases in residential construction, with nearly one-third expecting hikes exceeding 15%.

A Tale of Two Outlooks

While both islands face similar operational challenges, their 2025 economic outlooks diverge significantly.

In Curaçao, optimism prevails. Nearly two-thirds of construction companies (65%) expect overall economic conditions to improve, and 60% anticipate strengthening their local market position. Investment sentiment is also positive, with 57% of firms expecting some growth in investment levels.

In contrast, sentiment in Sint Maarten is markedly more cautious. Firms there expressed concerns about worsening economic conditions and reduced investment activity. Beyond labor and cost issues, respondents in Sint Maarten cited infrastructure constraints and limited access to finance as specific hurdles dampening their outlook.

Industry Priorities

To sustain growth and mitigate these challenges, construction firms across both nations have outlined clear priorities. The most frequently cited need (36%) is to expand and strengthen the skilled labor pool. Other top priorities include reducing the cost of doing business (27%), cutting red tape, and improving access to credit.

As 2025 progresses, the ability of the sector to bridge the skills gap and manage soaring input costs will likely determine whether the current growth trajectory can be sustain

-PHILIPSBURG:--- Once the pride of St. Maarten, TELEM Group is now the poster child for corporate incompetence, leadership treachery, and government abandonment. The national carrier’s tailspin is not the result of “market forces” or misfortune—it is a disgrace scripted by self-serving executives, a negligent board, and complacent politicians, with the brunt of the suffering forced onto the people of St. Maarten.
The epic decline of TELEM is pinned to two devastating chapters: 2016 and 2023. In 2016, then-CFO Helma Etnel presided over the first calamitous downsizing, hailed as “efficiency.” Instead, it sowed the seeds for the disaster that followed, leaving core issues unresolved and worker morale in tatters.
By 2023, things went from bad to catastrophic. Under the nose of former CEO Kendall Dupersoy and current CFO (and interim CEO) Randel Hato, TELEM unleashed a second round of reckless downsizing. In a gut-wrenching betrayal of loyalty and experience, 90 seasoned staff members were sent packing in the first wave, followed by 84 more in the next. These were not faceless numbers—these were the very St. Maarteners who carried TELEM for years, discarded without regard. In their place? A skeleton workforce hollowed out and utterly incapable of upholding even the most basic customer services.
The consequences of this carnage are everywhere. Calling TELEM today is a lesson in futility—there’s nobody left to answer the phones. Customers who dutifully pay their bills online are routinely disconnected because payments cannot be processed—a direct result of a billing system now in utter shambles. Emails go unread, complaints are ignored, and the “customer experience” is a cruel joke. Meanwhile, critical leadership roles vacated by locals are being quietly filled by individuals from Curaçao, handpicked by Hato himself. This blatant cronyism has locked St. Maarten’s own out of jobs and hope, even as the Board and government look the other way.
Government oversight, meanwhile, exists in name only. As TELEM bled out, desperate for financial rescue, St. Maarten’s government sat on its hands, ignoring pleas for support and blocking cash infusions that could have spurred modernization or even a lifeline for survival. Instead, the gates were thrown wide for outsiders like Starlink, all but guaranteeing TELEM’s irrelevance. This is not just carelessness, it is betrayal at the most basic level, showing utter disdain for the economic security and digital sovereignty of the island.
And what is left for St. Maarten? An economic anchor turned deadweight. Service quality has crashed through the floor, the workforce is devastated, and instead of a proud national telecom, the island is left with a mismanaged, hollowed-out embarrassment. Customers are punished, employees are abandoned, and faith in local leadership is destroyed.
This cannot—and must not—continue. Those responsible for the wholesale dismantling of TELEM’s legacy must be held to account. The government can no longer hide behind excuses or indifference. The cleanup of this catastrophe requires nothing short of a total overhaul—rooting out incompetence, restoring local leadership, rebuilding with integrity, and demanding performance over patronage.
St. Maarten deserves a telecom provider that delivers for its people and stands as a beacon of national pride—not a symbol of everything that has gone so wrong. The time for half measures is over. Real accountability, real reform, and real leadership are the only path forward. Anything less is permission for this disaster to repeat, and St. Maarten cannot bear another round of betrayal.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Richinel S.J. Brug, is encouraging the community to take simple, proactive steps to protect their health as flu season is underway.

The Minister emphasized that this message reinforces the importance of preventive healthcare practices that help reduce seasonal illness, strengthen the immune system, and support overall well-being.

“As we move through flu season, this is simply a reminder that prevention is always better than cure,” Minister Brug stated. “Small, consistent actions such as taking daily vitamins, staying hydrated, getting adequate rest, eating balanced meals, and actively working to raise our immune systems can make a meaningful difference.”

Minister Brug noted that, as a Caribbean country, Sint Maarten is fortunate to have access to natural remedies that have long been part of the region’s culture and traditions.

“We live in the Caribbean, where many natural resources are available to us,” he noted. “Local remedies such as ginger tea, ginger shots, turmeric, honey, lime, and other immune-supporting preparations have been used for generations. Incorporating these into our daily routines, alongside proper hygiene and medical guidance when necessary, can help strengthen our bodies during this time.”

The Minister also encouraged residents to maintain proper hand hygiene and stay home when feeling unwell.

 “Preventive health is a key pillar of our policy approach. When we take steps to strengthen our immune systems, we protect not only ourselves, but also our families and the most vulnerable members of our society.”

The Ministry of VSA continues to promote preventative healthcare as part of its broader public health strategy, recognizing that strong communities are built on informed, proactive choices.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina has extended warm congratulations to the Caribbean community following its powerful cultural representation during the Super Bowl halftime show, highlighting the global impact of Caribbean and Latin music and the significance of seeing the Sint Maarten flag displayed before one of the largest television audiences in the world.

Reflecting on the moment, Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina emphasized that the halftime show was more than entertainment.

“Beyond the excitement of the Super Bowl and the energy of the fans, the halftime show represented far more than music. It was a celebration of culture ranging from American, Latin, and the Caribbean, clearly demonstrating how art and identity can unite people across borders.”

The Prime Minister noted that the Sint Maarten flag's appearance held deep national significance and resonated strongly with citizens at home and abroad.
“It would be remiss not to acknowledge the display of our flag, a moment of tremendous pride for all of us. Seeing Sint Maarten represented in such a historic and widely viewed setting affirms that even small nations have a meaningful place on the global stage.”

Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina also reaffirmed the unifying power of music and culture in bringing people together across differences.

He added, “We also take pride in the fact that the countries of Aruba and Curaçao, as well as the islands of Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius, within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, were represented, highlighting the shared diversity and cultural richness of our wider Kingdom family.”

“Music transcends all boundaries. Regardless of who you are, who you love, or what you believe in, music has the power to unite us. That is the spirit of the Caribbean which is vibrant, resilient, and inclusive.”

In closing, the Prime Minister offered an inspiring message to Caribbean people everywhere, “let this moment remind us to be unapologetically who we are. Our cultures, our voices, and our stories matter. When we embrace them with confidence, we inspire the world.”

Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina encouraged Caribbean communities and artists to continue showcasing the region’s rich cultural heritage on international platforms, strengthening pride and visibility for generations to come.