PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People’s Party (UPP), Omar E.C. Ottley, has officially written to the Government of St. Maarten and the management of NV GEBE, urging them to suspend all electricity disconnections and to reconnect households for the Christmas holiday season, and to reconnect households currently without service.
In his formal communication, MP Ottley highlighted that the Christmas season represents a time of unity, generosity, and compassion, values he believes must guide national decision-making during a period of unprecedented hardship for many families on the island. The MP referenced the approach taken by the Government of Curaçao in 2024, where authorities suspended disconnections to ensure that no resident was left without electricity during the festive season.
According to Ottley, St. Maarten has endured two extremely challenging years marked by rising food prices, increased energy costs, and ongoing economic pressures that have tested the resilience of households across the island. “Many families are simply struggling to stay afloat,” the MP emphasized. “This is a time when loved ones gather together, when children look forward to the joy of the holidays, and when our community should be a source of comfort, not additional stress.”
MP Ottley stressed that electricity is no longer a luxury, but an essential service tied to health, safety, and dignity. He stated that leaving families in darkness during the Christmas holidays would compound emotional and financial burdens already weighing heavily on residents. “No mother should have to worry about preparing Christmas dinner without power. No child should go to bed on Christmas Eve in the dark. No elder should have to endure the season without the basic comfort of electricity,” the MP wrote. The letter urges the authorities to consider the collective moral responsibility to protect the most vulnerable during the island’s most cherished time of year
“This is not about politics,” MP Ottley stated. “This is about humanity. It is about ensuring that our people can experience the warmth of Christmas despite the global and local economic challenges. I am asking the Government and NV GEBE to stand with the people, to recognize their struggles, and to give them the gift of dignity and comfort this holiday season.”
MP Ottley said the true spirit of Christmas lies in compassion and expressed hope that the Government and NV GEBE will respond promptly and positively to the request, ensuring that no family enters Christmas, or the New Year, without light.
“Let us choose empathy. Let us choose community. Let us choose to light up every home on St. Maarten this Christmas,” stated MP Ottley.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) is pleased to announce the completion of Sint Maarten's comprehensive Housing Policy 2025-2035. This milestone represents a significant step forward in addressing the country's housing challenges and ensuring adequate housing for all Sint Maarteners. The announcement comes on the heels of the Government’s purchase of the totality of Belvedere Remainder, comprising 288,402 square meters.
The Housing Policy, developed over the course of 2024-2025 with support from the National Recovery Program Bureau, establishes a clear vision: "Adequate housing for all Sint Maarteners in all stages of their lives." The final draft was delivered to the Ministry on Friday, December 5th, 2025.
The policy addresses critical housing market challenges, including:
• Growing demand driven by population growth and short-term rental investments
• High housing costs relative to average incomes
• Limited available land for development
• The need for social and affordable housing options
"This Housing Policy represents a realistic and feasible roadmap for transforming our housing market," stated the Minister of VROMI. "It acknowledges both our challenges and opportunities and provides concrete actions to ensure every Sint Maartener has access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing."
The policy sets a target of building at least 1,200 new dwellings over the next 10 years, structured as follows:
• 400 social housing units (minimum 40 annually), with at least 50% designated for elderly or vulnerable populations
• 500 affordable housing units (minimum 50 annually), accessible to those earning the median income
• 300 free market units (maximum 30 annually)
At least 70% of new construction will focus on densification through property division, multi-floor buildings, the transformation of existing structures, and the better use of the current housing stock.
Reactivating the Mortgage Guarantee Fund
In parallel with the Housing Policy, the Minister announces the reactivation of Sint Maarten's Mortgage Guarantee Fund, originally established in 2000. This fund will provide crucial support to first-time homebuyers who face market barriers to homeownership. During its brief original operation, the fund successfully issued guarantees to first-time buyers, with zero defaults recorded.
A committee has been appointed to reactivate the Fund, comprising:
• Mr. Ronald Halman – Member of the original fund and experienced mortgage financier
• Mr. Christian Grannum – Financial and Operational Expert
• Ms. Raitza Naraine – Head of VROMI Policy Department and Project Focal Point
The committee was convened in January 2025 and submitted a workplan in August to the Minister of VROMI, identifying key interventions for the reactivation of the fund.
The Minister will formally submit the Housing Policy to Parliament, requesting a meeting for Q1 2026 to present a comprehensive implementation agenda.
"A healthy housing market cannot be achieved by the government alone," emphasized the VROMI Minister, Patrice Gumbs. "Success requires collaboration among all stakeholders – residents, developers, financial institutions, other ministries, and our community partners. VROMI will serve as the linking pin, bringing parties together to achieve our shared goals."
The policy calls for establishing an inter-ministerial working group including representatives from VSA (Public Health, Social Development, and Labor), TEATT (Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication), and Finance, among others.
The Housing Policy represents more than a document – it is a commitment to every Sint Maartener's right to adequate housing. By combining realistic targets, innovative financing mechanisms like the Mortgage Guarantee Fund, clear regulatory frameworks, and genuine stakeholder collaboration, Sint Maarten is positioned to transform its housing market over the next decade.
"Every additional adequate home brings us closer to our goal," concluded the Minister. "With this policy and the reactivation of the Mortgage Guarantee Fund, we're not just planning – we're building Sint Maarten's future."

PHILIPSBURG:--- Top 1 Toys, locally owned and operated, provider of children’s toys, (board) games and educational materials for all age groups, in collaboration with Premier Supplies, a provider of variety of paints for different industries, electrical, plumbing and tools, also established on Sint Maarten, collaborated to bring tokens of Christmas gifts to the students of Sister Magda Primary School.
Ms. Nina Williams, owner of Top 1 Toys: “Top 1 Toys has always remained in support of initiatives that support the well-being of our community, and in particular, our students. We have been operating since 2015, started under “Intertoys” and then transitioned to “Top 1 Toys”. We support education and the institutions that form part of educating our students. Through their parents, students have formed an integral part as contributors to the continued success of our business throughout the past 10 years of our existence. We were approached to be a contributing partner in Sister Magda School’s desire to present a Christmas gift token to their students. And there, the planning began to select items from our store. We are pleased to have collaborated with Premier Supplies, which co-sponsored this initiative.

The Managing Director of Premier Supplies, Mr. Dawkins, said, “While Premier Supplies is not a provider of children’s toys and related educational materials, we understand the dynamics of community togetherness and bringing Christmas cheer to students. When approached by Mr. Challenger to be part of this project, we accepted from the onset. We, too, are pleased to work with the Top 1 Toys Management Team in support of Sister Magda Primary School, and bring smiles of joy to the students. Many of our clients are parents, and coming together for our children is the way to go, and what better time to do this than during the Christmas season?
On the 5th of December, Santa paid a visit to the school, providing Top 1 Toys - gift tokens and good cheer to the children in the person of Mr. Jimmy Challenger. The School Manager, Ms. Kavita Ganput, stated: “We remain very appreciative of the contributions made by both businesses, Top 1 Toys and Premier Supplies, to make this initiative possible on such short notice. Without the business community on the side of Education, many projects and general educational activities would not be possible. It takes a community to build the positive development of each and every child. We also thank Mr. Jimmy Challenger, who has been a part of our school’s Parent Reading Program, for his assistance in introducing our school’s initiative to the two businesses and simply being in support of the process to achieve our school’s goal to bringing cheer to our students.”

WILLEMSTAD/PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) will issue a new bond loan on behalf of the country of Curaçao. The bond, which has a maturity of 30 years, is valued at XCG 115,700,000. The interest rate is based on the Dutch yield curve as per December 11, 2025. On November 24, the indicative interest rate for loans with a 30-year maturity was 3.479%. The bond will be repaid annually, beginning on December 18, 2026.
The subscription period for the Dutch State Treasury Agency (DSTA) opens on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Then, until Monday, December 15, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., the public may subscribe to this bond issue through the commercial banks in Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Subscriptions will take place according to the tender system in which parties indicate the amount and the price at which they wish to participate in the loan, thereby specifying their desired yield.
After the subscription period closes, the CBCS will announce the issue price. Those who subscribed at a price higher than the issue price will receive full allocation. Those who subscribed at an equal price will receive the remaining amount of the issue.
Subscription forms can be downloaded from our website at:
https://www.centralbank.cw/functions/market-operations-payments/capital-markets/government-loans-curacao
Willemstad, December 10, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURAÇAO EN SINT MAARTEN