~GEBE explains temporary container units removed, €70 million project faces shortfall, while Seven Seas negotiations remain in the government's hands.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten's long-awaited replacement power generators have not yet been ordered despite approximately €70 million in Dutch funding being made available for the project, GEBE officials revealed Friday, as questions continue to surround the island's future energy security and dependence on Seven Seas Water.

During a press conference, Temporary Manager Iris Arrindell and members of GEBE's management team provided updates on the utility's power generation plans, the removal of temporary container generators, and why the utility has not moved forward with purchasing the island's water production facility.

The disclosures came in response to a series of questions from members of the media about GEBE's infrastructure plans and long-term strategy.

NEW GENERATORS STILL NOT ORDERED

One of the most significant revelations was that the new power generators intended to replace aging units at the Cay Bay Power Plant have not yet been ordered.

Arrindell confirmed that although approximately €70 million in financing has been identified for the project, rising global costs and geopolitical developments have created a funding shortfall.

According to Arrindell, discussions are ongoing with generator manufacturer Wärtsilä to determine the exact amount required to bridge the gap before production can begin.

"We are in a phase now where we have a shortfall that we have to find a way to cover," Arrindell said.

She explained that a meeting was recently held with stakeholders and that additional discussions are expected in July.

While she declined to provide a specific dollar figure for the funding gap, Arrindell acknowledged that increased demand for power generation equipment worldwide and changing market conditions have pushed costs beyond initial projections.

The delay means the utility remains dependent on generators that in many cases have already exceeded their intended operational lifespan.

CONTAINER GENERATORS REMOVED

Management also provided an update on the temporary containerized generators that were brought to St. Maarten during the island's power crisis to help stabilize electricity production.

Distribution Manager Patrick Davis explained that the container units were part of a three-stage recovery strategy consisting of short-term, medium-term and long-term solutions.

The temporary units, which provided approximately 10 megawatts of generation capacity, have now been removed.

According to Davis, a technical assessment concluded that the existing generation fleet could continue operating without additional temporary capacity.

"The short-term solution was a 10-megawatt plant," Davis explained. "Those units were sent away earlier this year."

The utility is now relying on what officials described as the medium-term solution, consisting of approximately 20 megawatts of generation capacity currently available within the system.

The long-term solution remains the acquisition and installation of the new Wärtsilä generators.

QUESTIONS ABOUT WATER PRODUCTION

The issue of water production also generated significant discussion.

Responding to questions about why GEBE has not purchased the Seven Seas Water desalination plant, officials emphasized that negotiations regarding the facility are handled by the Government of St. Maarten and not by the utility company.

According to management, the current arrangement with Seven Seas has been extended until 2027 while negotiations continue.

"GEBE has no part in that," GEBE manager Patrick Drijvers said.

He explained that GEBE's role is limited to advising government on the island's water consumption needs, storage requirements and production capacity necessary to meet demand.

The utility does not participate in contract negotiations and does not sign agreements between government and Seven Seas Water.

BUYING THE PLANT NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS

While public discussion often focuses on the possibility of GEBE acquiring its own water production facility, management cautioned that such a move would require substantial investment.

Officials noted that replacing or purchasing a desalination plant would involve costs comparable to those associated with acquiring new power generators.

"It doesn't happen as easily as people think," Drijvers said.

"The plant is a third-party asset. If you have to reinvest in an entire new plant, that costs basically the same as generators."

Management suggested that maintaining productive negotiations and securing favorable contractual terms may prove more practical than attempting to acquire and operate the facility outright.

WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH FRENCH SIDE NEVER MATERIALIZED

Another issue raised during the press conference was a previously discussed arrangement that would have allowed GEBE to supply water to the French side of the island.

According to Davis, the physical interconnection between the two sides of the island remains in place and testing was conducted to ensure water quality met requirements.

However, despite the infrastructure being available, the arrangement never progressed beyond preliminary stages.

"We never opened the bank," Davis said.

While the French side initially expressed interest in purchasing water, no formal request was ultimately made to begin regular supply operations.

LOOKING TO FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES

Questions were also raised about whether GEBE has explored technologies that could improve efficiency by combining electricity generation with water production.

One example mentioned was Wärtsilä's freshwater distillation technology, which uses waste heat from generators to produce potable water.

Management indicated that such options may be examined as part of broader infrastructure planning, although no commitments were announced.

At the same time, GEBE acknowledged that it remains behind in implementing several requirements contained within its concession agreement, including policies related to alternative energy and net metering.

Arrindell said committees are being established to address those issues and develop recommendations for the future.

ISLAND'S INFRASTRUCTURE FACING GROWING DEMANDS

Officials also confirmed that communication between GEBE and government agencies has improved as new development projects continue across the island.

The utility said it is now receiving more information regarding upcoming construction projects, allowing planners to better assess future electricity and water demands.

Management stressed that meeting future demand will require more than new generators.

Additional investments in transmission infrastructure, distribution networks and water systems will also be necessary to support the island's continued growth.

For now, however, GEBE's immediate focus remains securing funding for the new generators, maintaining reliable service with existing equipment and ensuring that future negotiations concerning water production provide long-term security for the country.

With aging generators, growing demand and unresolved questions surrounding water production, the utility faces a critical period that will shape St. Maarten's energy and water future for years to come.

~Utility Executive says only 58.6% of customers are paying bills as ACP-SXM demands relief measures.~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Four years after the cyberattack that crippled GEBE's billing and customer management systems, the utility company says it is still struggling to recover while facing mounting financial pressure from unpaid bills, unmatched customer payments, and declining collections.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Temporary Manager Iris Arrindell said GEBE cannot afford to suspend disconnections or reverse the controversial nine-cent tariff adjustment demanded by the Association for Consumer Protection (ACP-SXM), warning that the company is already operating under significant financial strain.

The utility company revealed that only 58.6 percent of customers paid their bills in May 2026, while 9,526 customers remain delinquent, leaving GEBE with millions in outstanding receivables.

"We need to collect what we earn," Arrindell said. "If we continue only collecting 58.6 percent of our monthly income, we will continue going downward instead of upward."

HACK STILL HAUNTS GEBE

Arrindell spent much of the presentation explaining how the March 17, 2022, cyberattack continues to affect the utility's operations.

According to GEBE, the attack compromised the company's internal servers and backups, leaving management with only a March 2021 backup and limited files saved on employee desktops. Critical customer and billing information created between March 2021 and March 17, 2022, was effectively lost.

When management assessed the damage two days later, they discovered they only had customer open balances as of February 2022, downloaded to a desktop on March 9, 2022, along with paper meter reading schedules, meter readings, bank statements, and manually generated work orders.

Faced with the task of rebuilding an entire year's worth of customer records, GEBE rejected suggestions to create temporary bills in Excel and instead hired SAP consultants to rebuild the system using available digital and paper records.

The process required thousands of customer accounts to be rebuilt manually before the information could be uploaded back into the company's SAP platform.

Complications soon followed.

According to Arrindell, January meter readings were mistakenly used instead of February readings during the reconstruction process, forcing GEBE to correct March 2022 bills for every customer.

MISSING PAYMENTS AND ACCOUNT PROBLEMS

The utility executive also disclosed that years later, it is still dealing with customer payments that cannot be properly assigned.

Many customers who paid through the banking system failed to include their contract account numbers, making it difficult for GEBE to determine where to apply payments.

"To date, we still have payments that we do not know where to apply," Arrindell said.

The company also cited ongoing challenges involving landlords collecting utility payments from tenants without forwarding the funds to GEBE, accounts remaining in deceased persons' names due to inheritance disputes, and customers moving between properties without notifying GEBE.

More than half of GEBE's customers have yet to provide updated contact information, including email addresses and telephone numbers, despite repeated requests from the company.

WATER LEAKS WRITTEN OFF

In one of the more significant revelations, GEBE confirmed that it absorbed the cost of customer water leaks through December 2024.

Arrindell said the decision was made because billing delays in 2023 and 2024 prevented many customers from becoming aware of excessive water consumption in time to address leaks.

However, she made clear that the policy had ended.

"As of 2025, we no longer stand responsible for leaks after the meter," she said.

The company also expanded payment plans beyond water leaks to help customers manage outstanding balances following the cyberattack.

Initially, customers were required to make a percentage down payment before entering payment arrangements. When that approach failed, GEBE began tailoring plans based on what customers could afford.

The result, however, was that many customers paid only their payment plan amounts, allowing current bills to continue accruing.

Today, GEBE asks customers to commit to monthly payments that cover both their current utility charges and a portion of their outstanding debt.

Customers unable to cover even their current monthly bills are referred to Social Services for financial assistance.

DELINQUENCY CONTINUES TO GROW

Figures presented during the press conference showed that unpaid accounts have been increasing steadily since the hack.

According to GEBE:

• 939 contracts still have unpaid balances from 2022;
• 1,942 contracts remain outstanding from 2023;
• 3,792 contracts remain unpaid from 2024;
• More than 16,000 accounts have unpaid bills recorded in 2026.

Arrindell warned that failure to collect those funds is preventing GEBE from making critical investments in infrastructure and equipment.

"WE HAVE TO RESUME DISCONNECTIONS"

The issue arises as ACP-SXM has publicly called on GEBE to reconnect customers who were disconnected and reverse the nine-cent increase applied to utility bills.

Arrindell said those demands are not financially feasible under the company's current circumstances.

GEBE suspended disconnections for approximately two weeks amid growing public pressure, but the company said collections immediately declined.

"Our cash just started to go right down because no one is paying," Arrindell said.

"We have to resume. We just cannot stop."

The utility plans to increase direct communication with customers through emails, notices, and reminders before resuming normal collection and disconnection procedures.

EXPLAINING THE NUMBERS

To illustrate the company's position, Arrindell compared GEBE to an employee earning XCG 26,386 per month but receiving only 58.6 percent of that salary.

Using the analogy, she explained that GEBE effectively receives only XCG 15,462 per month while facing obligations totaling XCG 14,199 for fuel and water purchases, XCG 4,000 for operational expenses, and XCG 750 for general expenses.

The shortfall, she said, must be covered through cash flow reserves.

While GEBE currently maintains more than $40 million in cash flow and has no long-term loans, Arrindell stressed that the company's future depends on improving collections.

PREPAID METERS AND FUTURE INVESTMENTS

Officials also revealed that approximately 17,000 smart meters capable of operating as prepaid or postpaid devices have already been installed across the island.

GEBE is now working to complete the software and infrastructure required to launch a prepaid utility system, with implementation expected to begin in 2027.

The company is also continuing efforts to secure new generators through a €70 million project supported by Dutch funding, although rising global costs have reportedly created a funding shortfall that remains under discussion.

Despite the challenges, Arrindell said management remains committed to restoring public confidence and ensuring the long-term viability of the utility.

"My team and I are committed to the survivability of GEBE," she said. "We're going to do whatever it takes to get this company back up."

Willemstad/Philipsburg:---  On June 18, 2026, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) decided to maintain its monetary policy stance unchanged. This decision reflects two considerations. On the one hand, the monetary union continues to benefit from a strong external position, with gross official reserves providing more than five months of import coverage. On the other hand, the ongoing uncertainty surrounding developments in the Middle East and their potential spillover effects on commodity and financial markets, as well as resulting implications for the monetary union, warrant a cautious approach. Given these divergent developments, the decision is to remain consistent with the U.S. Federal Reserve's (Fed) June decision to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate unchanged. In the current environment, the CBCS will continue to closely monitor domestic and international developments and will adjust its monetary policy stance if necessary.
Despite a more challenging global landscape and increased market volatility, gross official reserves have continued to increase strongly in 2026. Following a rise of Cg 402.4 million in 2025, gross official reserves further increased by Cg 485.0 million through June 1st, 2026. As a result, import coverage has remained comfortably above the three-month benchmark, reaching 5.5 months by the end of May 2026. The external position is expected to remain solid throughout the remainder of the year, with the import coverage projected at 5.3 months at year-end and gross official reserves expected to increase by Cg 302.2 million over the course of 2026.
Notwithstanding the monetary union’s solid external position, the outlook remains subject to substantial risks, particularly on the external front. The conflict in the Middle East continues to pose risks to global supply chains and trade routes, leading not only to higher energy prices but also, potentially, to increased insurance premiums and freight costs. Although the recently announced framework agreement between the United States and Iran may reduce these risks and result in lower-than-anticipated average oil prices, the situation remains fragile and uncertain. In an environment of elevated geopolitical risks, international oil prices could remain high for an extended period, increasing the monetary union’s import bill and exerting pressure on gross official reserves through higher foreign exchange outflows.
In addition to developments in the Middle East, ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine, continue to contribute to global uncertainty. Furthermore, uncertainty surrounding global trade policies, with ongoing tariff disputes and legal challenges, reduces predictability and weighs on investment and economic activity. At the same time, renewed inflationary pressures stemming from higher commodity prices could prolong restrictive monetary policy in the United States, with potential repercussions for global financial conditions and economic growth.

These risks warrant a cautious monetary policy stance and support maintaining the CBCS's policy in line with the Fed's, given the peg of the Caribbean guilder to the U.S. dollar. On June 17, 2026, the Fed left its target range for the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50% to 3.75%, citing persistent inflationary pressures and heightened uncertainty surrounding the economic outlook. Against this backdrop, the CBCS decided to keep its pledging rate unchanged at 4.25%, thereby maintaining a spread of 50 basis points above the federal funds rate.
Finally, the CBCS maintained the reserve requirement percentage at 18.50%, given the persistent excess liquidity in the banking system. It will also continue to offer attractive rates on its weekly auctions of certificates of deposit (CDs) to encourage banks to retain excess liquidity domestically, thereby safeguarding the monetary union’s foreign exchange position. These policy decisions are supported by the monetary union’s solid foreign exchange position and reflect a prudent, forward-looking approach in an uncertain global environment.

Willemstad, June 19, 2026
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN

PHILIPSBURG:---  Kadaster St. Maarten has introduced dedicated email contact addresses to make it easier for customers to access services, obtain information, and receive timely assistance. The new contact channels are designed to ensure that inquiries, requests, and feedback are directed to the appropriate department, allowing for more efficient handling and improved customer service.

Registry Services
Customers seeking assistance with registry-related matters are encouraged to contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This email address can be used to submit applications and service requests; request information regarding registry services; obtain assistance with registry-related matters; and follow up on pending requests.

Information and Appointments
For general information and appointments, customers may contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This email address can be used to: schedule appointments; submit general inquiries; request information about Kadaster services; and direct questions, comments, or concerns to management.

Customer Feedback and Complaints
Kadaster St. Maarten remains committed to continuous improvement and welcomes customer feedback. Customers who wish to submit a complaint or share feedback regarding services received may contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This email address may be used when a customer is dissatisfied with the service received; a request submitted through the Registry has not been answered within a reasonable timeframe; or a customer wishes to provide feedback to help improve service delivery. All complaints and feedback will be reviewed and addressed in accordance with Kadaster St. Maarten’s customer service procedures.

Providing accessible, responsive, and professional service remains a priority for Kadaster. These dedicated email addresses will help ensure that inquiries and requests reach the appropriate department more quickly, allowing Kadaster to serve the public more efficiently and effectively. Customers are encouraged to use the appropriate email address to help facilitate the timely handling of their inquiries and requests. For additional information about these contact upgrades, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..