PHILIPSBURG:---  On Thursday, June 5, the Honorable Richinel Brug, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), was joined by a delegation of stakeholders in St. John’s for an official site visit to the future location of St. Maarten’s new mental health facility. The activity forms a major component of the Mental Health Project being implemented by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. The main objective of this project is to improve the capacity of mental health service delivery in Sint Maarten.

The delegation included representatives from the NRPB, the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), the Mental Health Foundation (MHF), engineering firm Independent Consulting Engineers (ICE), engineering consultancy ILACO, the World Bank, and international design firm Politecnica.

The visit formed part of three days of introductions and technical sessions focused on planning and early design work for the new facility.

Minister of VSA, Richinel Brug, and Director Claret Connor were present during the visit. He expressed the ministry’s ongoing support for improving access to mental health services on the island.

“This mental health project is one of my top priorities as Minister. As Ministry we are committed to do everything on our side to ensure there are no further delays to this project. I am pleased with the outcome of last week’s mission: stronger ties were forged with NRPB, World Bank, and all other stakeholders who are part of ensuring this project is a success.”

Ravin Patandin, director of ILACO, an engineering firm that will work closely with Politecnica, outlined the importance of having local knowledge involved from the start.
 “We’ve worked in Sint Maarten before and understand the local conditions. Our goal is to support the design process in a way that makes implementation faster and more responsive to the island’s infrastructure. When we design, we think about durability and low maintenance. That’s especially important for places like St. Maarten, where there’s often a modest budget for maintenance. I am working to ensure the facility will be something that can stand strong for the next 30 or 40 years.”

Politecnica, an Italian design firm experienced in healthcare and infrastructure, selected through a competitive bidding process, will lead the detailed design of St. Maarten’s new mental health facility,y along with local and community input. The firm has experience working on global projects, including in Guyana and Belize in the Caribbean. Architect Claudia Romero from Politecnica described the design process as collaborative and focused on local needs.
 “It’s encouraging to see the ministry and local partners involved so early, including during site visits. That kind of engagement is not common. Mental health is a shared challenge, and these collaborations will enable us to design a truly suitable space. With over 30 years in healthcare design and a partnership with ILACO, we are bringing both international and regional experience to support the success of this facility. We’re fully committed to delivering a facility that will support both mental and physical health. We believe this project will benefit the whole community.”

Erika van der Horst, secretary of the MHF Board, stated that the new building will enhance both care and working conditions.
 “We’re excited that the project is moving ahead with the design phase and soon with construction. It’s encouraging to see strong cooperation between the government and stakeholders, working together to strengthen mental health care. We hope that having a modern, welcoming facility will help reduce stigma and make it easier for people to seek support. For staff, it will be a major relief to work in a proper space, which also means better safety for both staff and patients. The new facility will significantly improve the quality of care we provide and support the direction we’re heading in.”

Groundbreaking for the new Mental Health Facility is scheduled for 2026, with completion expected in 2027. The Mental Health Project is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of Sint Maarten. It is funded by the Sint Maarten Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Tax Administration of Sint Maarten invites the public to an Open House on Saturday, June 21, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Vineyard Building. This offers a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to receive one-on-one guidance on tax-related topics, including income tax, wage tax, TOT, profit tax, and general tax procedures.

Please note that no stamping or document submissions will take place during the Open House. The focus is purely on providing guidance, answering questions, and informing you of your responsibilities as a taxpayer.

All are encouraged to attend and take advantage of this informative session. No appointments are necessary—just walk in, ask your questions, and leave better informed. The Tax Administration looks forward to welcoming you.

For more information or questions please contact the Tax Administration at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, 542-3840, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG – The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), through its Department of Economic Transport and Telecommunication (ETT), continues to champion sustainable agriculture and food security for St. Maarten and the wider Dutch Caribbean region through its active engagement in recent high-level regional and international meetings.

Between May 19 and 23, 2025, a delegation from St. Maarten participated in the second Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance (DCALFA) Conference held in Bonaire. The event brought together government representatives, farmers, fishermen, and sector stakeholders from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten for five days of dialogue, knowledge sharing, and exploration of sustainable development practices in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.

Representing the Ministry of TEATT were Senior Policy Advisors Ms. Avril Isaac and Mr. Shervin Frederick (Vice President of DCALFA), and Inspector Mr. Mervyn Butcher. The delegation also included three representatives from the primary sector: farmers Mr. Josiah Haley and Mr. Oliver Williams, and fisherman Mr. Lee Lake, whose participation was made possible through support from the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality (LVVN) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Participants engaged in interactive workshops, field visits to local agricultural sites, and panel discussions with regional ministers and policy experts. Central to the conference was a collective commitment to sustainable food systems, the exchange of best practices, and preparation for the renewal of the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2026—an agreement originally signed by all six islands to strengthen collaboration in agriculture and food security.

Strengthening Kingdom Collaboration

Shortly following the Bonaire conference, St. Maarten representatives Ms. Isaac and Mr. Frederick traveled to the Netherlands for a follow-up meeting with Dutch Minister Femke Wiersma of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). The meeting, initiated by Dutch Senator Tekke Panman and facilitated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), provided an open and productive forum for continued cooperation within the Kingdom.

The delegation also attended the prestigious GreenTech Fair, the largest agriculture and technology exposition in the Netherlands, and visited both the University of Wageningen and the World Horti Center—leading institutions in agricultural research, education, and innovation.

Discussions with Minister Wiersma focused on reinforcing collaboration between the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands, with a particular emphasis on policy development, vocational training opportunities, and shared innovation. The recently presented DCALFA Roadmap 2025–2035—a strategic policy vision for food security—was also shared as a key reference for future joint initiatives.

Looking Ahead

The 2025 engagements underscore the Ministry of TEATT’s ongoing commitment to building a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector, both locally and within the broader Kingdom. The next DCALFA conference is scheduled to take place in St. Maarten in 2026, offering the country a unique opportunity to lead and showcase its progress in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries.

“We are proud of the leadership role our representatives have played within DCALFA and look forward to welcoming our sister islands to St. Maarten next year,” said the Hon. Minister of TEATT, Grisha Heyliger-Marten.  “The momentum built from Bonaire to The Hague signals a renewed dedication to food security, education, and sector innovation—areas vital to our economy and future sustainability.”

The Ministry of TEATT remains committed to creating policy-driven pathways for agriculture and fisheries that empower local producers, strengthen inter-island partnerships, and promote economic resilience throughout the Dutch Caribbean.

MARIGOT:--- The residents of Saint-Martin have been enduring frequent electricity outages, a pressing issue addressed in a recent press conference held by EDF Archipel Guadeloupe on June 13, 2025. These rolling blackouts, known locally as “délestages,” have disrupted daily life and highlighted the growing challenges within the island’s energy infrastructure. Here, we take a closer look at the root causes, the impact felt by residents, and the proposed strategies to bring stability to Saint-Martin’s electricity system. 

Causes of the Electricity Outages
The electricity outages on the island can be traced back to several compounding issues:
1. Aging Infrastructure: Two of the three production units in Saint-Martin have exceeded their optimal operational lifespan, with one unit no longer able to operate at full capacity. Although a new production facility has been planned, its construction has been delayed due to pending approvals for the Multi-Year Energy Program (MYEP) and challenges in securing suitable land.
2.  Technical Failures: Even the newer generation units have faced technical problems since late 2024, further reducing the island’s production capacity. Maintenance work on these machines has also periodically taken key systems offline, exacerbating the problem.
3. Rising Demand: Rapid growth in electricity consumption has placed immense pressure on the already strained system. Although demand started stabilizing at the end of 2024, Saint-Martin’s energy supply has struggled to meet peak periods, often exceeding the available base capacity of 24 MW.
Cumulatively, these factors have left Saint-Martin’s electricity grid in a highly precarious state.

The Impact on Daily Life
Between January 1 and May 31, 2025, Saint-Martin experienced rolling blackouts on 27 different days, with the outages lasting an average of two hours and occasionally extending up to four hours and 40 minutes. On May 9—the most severe day of outages this year—nearly 7,000 customers, representing 41% of the island’s population, were left without power.
The unpredictability of these blackouts has caused significant disruptions for households, businesses, and essential services. For affected residents, the lack of power has meant everything from spoiled food and interruptions in work to difficulties accessing critical medical equipment.

Solutions Proposed by EDF
EDF Archipel Guadeloupe has shared a detailed multi-step plan to address Saint-Martin’s electricity crisis and ensure a reliable power supply for the future. Their strategy spans immediate, medium-term, and long-term measures:

1. Short-Term Fixes:
• The installation of additional generator sets (GE) in 2024 added a temporary boost of 7.5 MW to Saint-Martin’s capacity.
A backup power station with a 20 MW capacity is planned for deployment within the next two years to provide further relief.

2. Mid-Term Solutions:
• A temporary power plant with a capacity of 30 MW and advanced environmental compliance measures is scheduled to come online in approximately 14 months, pending regulatory approval. This facility is expected to operate for seven years while permanent solutions are finalized.

3. Long-Term Goals:
• The centerpiece of EDF’s long-term strategy is the long-awaited replacement of outdated production facilities, as outlined in the pending PPE. This modern plant, coupled with renovations to existing infrastructure, promises a sustainable fix to the island’s ongoing energy challenges.

Toward a Sustainable and Stable Future
EDF emphasized that solving Saint-Martin’s energy crisis goes beyond upgrading infrastructure—it also requires collective efforts to reduce electricity consumption. Programs like the ‘Agir Plus’ initiative provide financial incentives for residents to adopt energy-efficient technologies, such as solar water heaters, high-performance air conditioning units, and better home insulation.
The company is also promoting the use of its ‘E-qui libre’ service, which enables residents to monitor and optimize their daily electricity consumption. Paired with public awareness campaigns, EDF aims to encourage habits like raising air conditioning settings, turning off unused appliances, and shifting energy use to off-peak hours.

Urgent Action Needed
4. With Saint-Martin’s energy infrastructure under strain, the solutions proposed by EDF hold promise—but immediate action and community cooperation will be critical to their success. The ongoing blackouts serve as a stark reminder of the importance of sustainable energy practices, even as authorities work to build a more resilient electricity supply.
5. Residents with questions about ongoing initiatives or energy-saving options are encouraged to contact EDF Archipel Guadeloupe directly for more details.