PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina says the government is pushing ahead with efforts to modernize the country’s budgeting process while simultaneously dealing with delays surrounding the 2026 national budget.
Speaking during Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing, Mercelina acknowledged that the 2026 budget remains behind schedule and is currently under review by the Council of Advice.
“We are already behind in our time planning for the budget of 2026,” Mercelina stated. “The 2026 national budget is still pending at this particular moment. It’s by the Council of Advice.”
The Prime Minister explained that government submitted the 2026 budget late and is now awaiting feedback from the advisory body before moving forward with the next phase of the process.
“We are waiting on their feedback. And after that, we will have to make another report, as we say. And then it will be submitted to Parliament,” he said.
Despite the delay, Mercelina emphasized that government has already begun preparing the 2027 budget using what he described as “a totally different approach” aimed at improving financial planning and ensuring future budgets are approved by Parliament before September.
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Finance and with support from the Temporary Work Organization (TWO), the government has already established financial ceilings for each ministry and identified three policy priorities per ministry as part of a policy-based budgeting model.
“All ministries will be required to submit their draft budgets and explanatory notes,” Mercelina explained, adding that the Ministry of General Affairs has already completed its submission for the 2027 process.
The Prime Minister outlined several major priorities that will shape government spending in both 2026 and 2027, including strengthening public administration, improving shared government services such as Personnel and Organization (P&O), legal affairs, and facility management.
Mercelina also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and stronger cross-border collaboration with French Saint-Martin and the Kingdom.
Another key area of investment involves disaster preparedness and emergency response capabilities.
“Advancing long overdue investments in disaster management and crisis response, including essential equipment for the Fire Department and strengthening of the Office for Disaster Management,” remains one of government’s priorities, Mercelina said.
The Prime Minister additionally addressed ongoing staffing shortages within government, describing the recruitment of qualified professionals as one of St. Maarten’s largest institutional challenges.
“One of the biggest challenges we still have is the equipment of our government with enough professionals,” he stated.
Government, he said, is working closely with TWO to recruit professionals to strengthen public services across the country.
During the question-and-answer segment, Mercelina also addressed the country’s broader financial challenges, noting that St. Maarten continues to face structural limitations due to its small population and economic realities.
“There is no financial formula that 15,000 people can pay for 60,000,” the Prime Minister said while discussing healthcare financing and public service demands.
Mercelina stressed that solving the country’s long-term financial issues will require broader contributions from the population as the government attempts to balance national priorities with limited resources.