PHILIPSBURG:---  The Department of Statistics (STAT) is developing a Statistical Publication Calendar to give policymakers, businesses, researchers, journalists and the public a clearer indication of when official statistics and key indicators will be released.

The initiative forms part of a broader effort to strengthen cooperation with government departments, public entities, businesses and other data providers to improve the quality, timeliness and availability of statistics for St. Maarten.

STAT said much of its work depends on information supplied by other organizations, making timely, accurate and complete submissions essential to producing reliable statistical reports.

Through its stakeholder engagement efforts, the department is identifying information needs, assessing available data and addressing gaps across the public and private sectors. It is also working to establish clearer data-sharing arrangements and greater consistency in definitions, classifications and methodologies.

The planned publication calendar is intended to make the release process more transparent by showing when statistical publications and key indicators are expected. The department did not announce a launch date for the calendar.

STAT emphasized that its ability to meet users’ needs depends partly on external organizations fulfilling their data-provision responsibilities. Stronger information-sharing arrangements are therefore central to improving the consistency and timeliness of releases.

The department will also explore using administrative records more alongside traditional surveys. In doing so, it aims to account for St. Maarten’s small population and reduce the burden of repeatedly asking the same individuals to participate in surveys, a problem known as survey fatigue.

At the same time, STAT encouraged residents to participate when invited, noting that reliable statistics and accurate conclusions require sufficient responses.

The initiatives support the 2026 Caribbean statistical theme, “Harmonizing Data, Strengthening Resilience,” which emphasizes cooperation and consistency in building stronger statistical systems.

STAT representatives are also participating in a CARICOM regional statistical meeting during the week of October 26, 2026, to exchange experiences and methodologies and strengthen regional cooperation.

“Quality statistics depend on cooperation,” the department stated. “STAT cannot produce the statistics needed by St. Maarten in isolation.”

STAT said it remains committed to strengthening relationships with its data providers while making the statistical process more transparent, timely and comprehensive.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Honorable Claret Connor, extends warmest congratulations and best wishes to Mrs. Doris Olive Hodge-Wilson as she celebrates her remarkable 105th birthday milestone.

Reaching 105 years is an extraordinary blessing and a testament to a lifetime of strength, resilience, and cherished memories. Mrs. Hodge-Wilson represents a living connection to generations of Sint Maarten's history, traditions, and community spirit.

"On behalf of the Ministry of VSA and the people of Sint Maarten, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Hodge-Wilson on this exceptional milestone. Our senior citizens are among our greatest treasures, and reaching 105 years is truly a reason for celebration. May she continue to be surrounded by love, joy, and the warmth of her family," Minister Connor stated.

The Minister joins Mrs. Hodge-Wilson and all her family and loved ones in celebrating this special occasion and wishes her continued blessings, comfort, and happiness.

From disputed evaluations under Doran to rejection notices under Gumbs, waste haulers are again demanding transparency. A public video does not settle the questions.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs faces a credibility problem that cannot be resolved by asking the public to wait.

Waste collection companies have received information showing rankings, references to a winning bidder, and a notice rejecting a submitted offer. A screenshot displays the Mercell procurement platform under the heading “Awarding.” Yet the Minister says no contracts have been awarded and the evaluation process continues.

Those positions may describe different stages of procurement. If so, Gumbs must explain them clearly—and account for why participating businesses received communications that appear more conclusive than his public message.

After the collapse of the original tender and the launch of a replacement process, confusion over what bidders have actually been told represents another communication failure in a procurement exercise that demanded exceptional care.

For the URSM-led coalition, with the Party for Progress sharing responsibility for government, this tests whether its standards of transparency survive the move from opposition to executive power.

The record did not begin with Gumbs

On January 8, 2024, it was reported that previously unavailable evaluation documents had surfaced concerning the 2021–2026 waste collection tender under former VROMI Minister Egbert J. Doran.

According to the reports, companies initially disqualified received another chance to submit missing documents and later obtained contracts. The local news reported that four evaluation committee members withdrew and that other qualifying bidders lost out despite lower offers. These were findings reported on the earlier procurement exercise, not a court determination of criminal wrongdoing.

The underlying institutional warning was even older.

In June 2022, Ombudsman Gwendolien Mossel concluded that the tendering and awarding process was neither fair nor sufficiently transparent. Her office identified inadequate preparation, inconsistent application of requirements, and decision-making that disadvantaged some contractors while benefiting others.

Four of seven evaluation committee members distanced themselves from the results. The Ombudsman also reported that the Minister refused to provide critical evaluation records, limiting scrutiny of the process. Recommendations included better preparation, stronger procurement rules, staff training, and a public evaluation report.

VROMI therefore entered the current tender with a documented history of procurement weaknesses and explicit recommendations for improvement.

Its leadership had ample warning.

PFP demanded disclosure when Doran held the portfolio

PFP understood the importance of those concerns while in opposition.

In a March 31, 2023 letter concerning the separate district cleaning tender, then-MPs Melissa Gumbs and Raeyhon Peterson raised suspicions of fraud or corruption after reviewing documents. Those suspicions were allegations, not established findings.

The faction sought evaluation forms, awarding advice, the SOAB report, decision records, and explanations for the reversal of disqualifications.

That history sets a demanding political benchmark.

A party that insisted on examining the paperwork under Doran should support equally rigorous scrutiny when its own Minister holds VROMI. The officeholder's identity cannot determine how much transparency bidders and taxpayers deserve.

PFP’s credibility now depends on whether it applies to its earlier demands consistently.

Government has offered an explanation—but questions remain

An October 27 government statement said participating bidders had received Mercell scoring results showing how their submissions compared with competing bids.

It said the evaluation committee would subsequently verify whether bidders met the established criteria and were eligible for award. That explanation describes scoring outcomes that remain subject to further checks.

In the video transcript supplied to SMN News, Gumbs similarly states that “no contracts have been awarded as yet.”

That distinction matters. The screenshots alone do not prove that final contracts exist.

But the Minister still needs to explain why correspondence refers to “the winner” and why another bidder was informed that its offer would not be used. If those notices were provisional, the Ministry should identify their status, the outstanding checks, and what opportunity bidders have to challenge or clarify the results.

Expecting companies to decipher the relationship between a platform label, a rejection notice, and a ministerial video is poor public administration.

A failed first tender raises the stakes

Earlier reporting on Gumbs’ explanation to Parliament recorded that all 17 bidders failed the original tender’s mandatory eligibility requirements.

Gumbs defended refusing corrections during evaluation, arguing that changing the rules could compromise equal treatment. The Ministry extended existing contracts and announced an external assessment by Grant Thornton.

Equal treatment is a defensible principle. The failure of an entire field of bidders also demands examination of the Ministry’s preparation, instructions, and procurement design.

Doran has since pressed Gumbs over procurement practices. During the August 27, 2026 budget debate, he demanded direct answers about whether roadworks and cleaning activities had undergone tender procedures.

Doran’s own disputed record does not excuse the present administration. Equally, his criticism does not erase the findings concerning his tenure.

The public deserves consistent accountability across administrations.

Administrative leadership must also answer

Scrutiny must extend to VROMI’s senior administrative management, including Secretary General Kenson Plaisimond.

SMN News previously raised concerns about his qualifications and the Ministry’s performance. However, the material verified for this article does not establish that he fails the formal requirements for his position.

The immediate accountability questions are concrete: who approved the bidder communications, who checked their accuracy, what instructions governed their release, and who is responsible for explaining the apparent discrepancies?

Gumbs carries political responsibility for obtaining and delivering those answers.

The history of corruption makes disclosure more urgent

St. Maarten has experienced proven corruption involving a former VROMI Minister.

Theo Heyliger received a five-year prison sentence for accepting bribes and money laundering in the Larimar case. Reporting in January 2024 described the court’s findings on payments linked to major construction projects during his time as Commissioner, MP, and VROMI Minister.

That history makes rigorous scrutiny of public contracts essential. It does not establish that Gumbs, Doran, Plaisimond, or the current tender participants engaged in self-enrichment.

The demand for evidence must apply equally to government decisions and accusations.

The concerned haulers say they submitted their joint complaint by email on October 28, requested a substantive response within 30 days, and sought a meeting with the Minister and his team. Their questions cover the cancellation, retendering, scoring, equipment, experience, prices, and communication of outcomes.

Gumbs should answer those questions directly and make the relevant evaluation record available with justified protections for confidential information.

The coalition inherited a ministry with a damaged procurement record. Its responsibility was to demonstrate improvement.

Another tender surrounded by disputed communications and demands for basic explanations is a serious indictment of that effort. Transparency must now be demonstrated through records, reasons, and accountable decisions.

The Minister’s next response needs to contain them.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Emergency Recovery Project I (ERP-I), the first project financed through the Sint Maarten Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund, is set to close in December 2026 after eight years of investment in the country's housing, education, public infrastructure, and emergency services.  

With approximately US$119.7 million in financing, the project has supported repairs to more than 500 homes, restored 19 schools and placed 21 kilometers of electricity distribution infrastructure underground. Sint Maarten has also gained new emergency response vehicles, increased water-storage capacity, and more advanced systems to monitor severe weather and communicate public warnings. 

Representatives of the Government of Sint Maarten, the Government of the Netherlands, the World Bank and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) gathered on October 28 at the Aleeze Convention Center, alongside public institutions, project partners and beneficiaries, to recognize ERP-I's achievements at the Impact & Recovery Celebration as the project enters its final phase. 

ERP-I began in 2018, initially focusing on urgent recovery needs after Hurricane Irma. In the following eight years, its scope expanded to include longer-term investments in infrastructure, public services, and disaster preparedness. Nearly 12,000 residents have benefited directly from its investments, while improvements to national emergency response capabilities are intended to serve the wider population of Sint Maarten. As ERP-I winds down, the government's ministries and public institutions that manage them will remain responsible for maintaining its facilities, infrastructure, equipment, and systems. 

Throughout the program, speakers reflected on ERP-I’s achievements, the challenges of delivering investments across sectors, and lessons that can inform future development efforts. Their remarks also recognized the contributions of public servants, technical specialists, contractors, frontline workers and communities whose efforts have supported the recovery program over the years. 

Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor emphasized ERP-I’s role in helping families return to their homes following Hurricane Irma. He highlighted the importance of the project’s housing repairs in restoring stability and helping residents rebuild their lives after the disaster. 

The event included a panel discussion, From Recovery to Resilience: What ERP-I Made Possible, which explored what the investments have meant for public services and the institutions responsible for delivering them. Speakers representing government, education, shelter management, meteorology and emergency communications shared their experiences of implementing recovery activities and discussed how the improvements will continue to benefit Sint Maarten. 

Panelists discussed the vital role of restoring schools in helping communities regain a sense of normalcy after a disaster, along with the improvements made to 19 schools through ERP-I. They also highlighted upgrades to emergency shelters and the new equipment and capabilities available to emergency services. The Meteorological Department’s role was also discussed, including its increased capacity to forecast the weather and communicate timely information to the public. 

The discussion highlighted the importance of maintaining these investments and applying the experience gained through ERP-I to future public projects. 

“ERP-1 shows what strong partnerships and long-term investment can achieve. Together with our partners, we have strengthened resilience and improved critical services that will continue to benefit Sint Maarten for years to come,” said Toyin Jagha, Program Manager, Sint Maarten Trust Fund. 

"Over the past eight years, many people have contributed to achieving ERP-I’s objectives. We thank our counterparts in government, the World Bank and the Government of the Netherlands, together with the project teams and partners who have supported this work over the years. These achievements reflect their collective effort and commitment to Sint Maarten’s recovery,” said NRPB Deputy Director Rueben J. Thompson. “Appreciation is also extended to the many beneficiaries for their faith in our teams, their patience and cooperation throughout this process.” 

Although the event celebrated the project's achievements, ERP-I remains active as its final activities progress towards the scheduled closure in December. The NRPB and its project partners will continue to share updates with the public on the remaining work, progress, and the project's final results. 

The National Recovery Program Bureau implements Emergency Recovery Project I on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. The Sint Maarten Recovery and Resilience Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and administered by the World Bank, funds it.