PHILIPSBURG:--- The people of Sint Maarten are tired of excuses. They're tired of promises. And most of all, they're tired of paying inflated electricity and water bills while their government opts for endless studies instead of decisive action.
The Council of Ministers' latest decision regarding GEBE relief measures reads like a broken record: more studies are needed. This response comes despite having a comprehensive 40-page report from BTP and RAC that already exposes the glaring problems in our energy sector. How many more reports do we need before someone has the courage to act?
The Uncomfortable Truth About Our Energy Monopoly
Let's call it what it is – the energy and water markets in Sint Maarten are controlled by monopolistic suppliers who have been setting their own rules for years. SOL controls fuel imports, GEBE controls electricity and water distribution, and Seven Seas controls water production. These companies operate without meaningful oversight, free to determine tariffs at their discretion while the people bear the cost.
The BTP/RAC report reveals a damning reality: "For many years the main operators, SOL and GEBE, have been in a position to unilaterally determine the utility tariffs. This has resulted in a lack of transparency in tariff setting and consequently a diminished level of trust by the public."
This isn't just poor governance – it's a betrayal of public trust.
The Numbers Don't Lie
While government debate the need for more studies, the facts are already on the table. The report shows that between 2022-2024, GEBE generated a surplus of approximately 12.6 million guilders from the fuel clause alone. That's 12.6 million guilders in excess charges paid by residents and businesses – money that should have stayed in their pockets.
Even more troubling, the report found that "the current formula for determining the electricity tariffs could not be validated." We're paying bills based on calculations that can't even be properly verified.
The report makes crystal clear recommendations that could provide immediate relief:
- Regulate fuel prices for electricity generation through existing procedures
- Establish independent oversight of tariff calculations
- Correct the flawed fuel clause formula that has been overcharging consumers
- Implement transparent cost allocation between electricity and water services
These aren't radical suggestions requiring years of study – they're basic regulatory practices used worldwide.
The SOL Connection Demands Investigation
The Council of Ministers must heed the call for an in-depth study of SOL's fuel pricing and markup practices. The report shows that while SOL's base prices generally follow international markets, “an increase in the other tariff components has been noted over these years."
What are these mysterious "other components"? Why are they increasing? The people deserve to know exactly what they're paying for when SOL charges GEBE for fuel that ultimately appears on every electricity bill.
The report notes that SOL and GEBE aren't even in agreement on fuel supply terms, creating "operational risks... environmental risks and eventually continuity risks for the energy provision as a whole." Yet somehow, consumers continue paying the price for this dysfunction.
Enough Studies – Time for Action
The BTP/RAC report provides 13 detailed recommendations for reform. These solutions exist right now. What we lack isn't information – it's political will.
The Council of Ministers' decision to commission more studies while people struggle with high energy costs is not just disappointing – it's insulting. How many reports do we need to confirm what everyone already knows? That our energy sector operates without proper oversight, that consumers are being overcharged, and that meaningful regulation is long overdue?
The people demand immediate action on three fronts:
- Launch the comprehensive SOL study immediately – Every fuel delivery, every markup, every additional cost component must be scrutinized and justified.
- Implement regulatory oversight now – BTP SXM should begin monthly reviews of GEBE's tariff calculations while the COM deliberates on formal regulatory frameworks.
- Correct the fuel clause formula – The 12.6 million guilder surplus proves the current system is broken. Fix it and return excess charges to consumers.
The energy crisis in Sint Maarten isn't caused by a lack of studies – it's caused by a lack of action. The people can't wait for another report while they choose between paying electricity bills and buying groceries.
The Council of Ministers has the tools, the recommendations, and the legal authority to act. The only question remaining is whether they have the will to use them.
The people of Sint Maarten are watching. And they're running out of patience.