PHILIPSBURG:--- When public officials are entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of their constituents, particularly the vulnerable youth, inaction is not just negligence—it’s betrayal. Minister of VSA, Richinel Brug, has spectacularly failed in this regard, choosing to sidestep accountability and dragging his feet on a growing public health crisis. Despite alarming revelations back in May about children inhaling household products and other dangerous substances, the Minister has done little more than make hollow statements while the situation spirals further out of control.
A Timeline of Failure
The issue first surfaced when the Turning Point Foundation disclosed on May 13, 2025, the troubling trend of youth resorting to inhalants—substances known for their immediate but profoundly damaging effects. During a press briefing earlier that month, Minister Brug acknowledged the problem, openly stating that he was informed of the situation by SMN News and Turning Point. At the time, he pledged swift action. A collaboration between the Ministries of VSA and Education, Culture, Youth, and Sport (ECYS) was supposedly in the works, promising a public awareness campaign.
Now, nearly two months later, all we have are empty words. There hasn’t been a single announcement, campaign launch, or tangible effort to address the issue. Neither Minister Brug nor his cohorts in the Ministry of ECYS have shown any urgency in following through with their commitments. Worse yet, when pressed for updates during another press briefing on July 9, 2025, Minister Brug didn’t even mention whether his Ministry planned to provide counseling or support to the children and families already suffering from the real-life consequences of this crisis.
Empty Promises, Unmet Expectations
Brug’s words during that initial briefing may have sounded productive, even regretful, urging parents to talk to their children and imploring collective action. But his so-called leadership crumbled the moment bold action was required. Where is the “togetherness” he so earnestly claimed was necessary? A campaign that “should have happened yesterday” hasn’t happened at all under his watch.
This glaring inaction isn’t just irresponsible, it’s disgraceful. Vulnerable children continue to inhale toxic substances, irreversibly damaging their health, while the Minister fiddles around making excuses. The promised collaborative campaign? It’s become nothing more than vaporware. Without immediate action, how many lives will be lost or shattered before this administration wakes up?
Dodging Accountability
Minister Brug’s evasion of difficult questions from the media adds insult to injury. SMN News, which has been pivotal in exposing this crisis, has reportedly been shut out by the Minister’s office entirely. Why? Because their “questions are too difficult.” For an elected official tasked with protecting the public, such cowardice is unbecoming. This is not just a failure of policy but an indictment of character. Brug has shown he is unwilling—or worse, unable—to take necessary steps to protect the nation’s youth.
This isn’t just about bureaucracy or delayed timelines; this is a matter of lives. Children, our most vulnerable citizens, are being harmed by substances readily available in their homes, and the Minister has wasted precious time. Two months have passed, with no public acknowledgment of the affected families and no psychological or medical support offered. Brug’s neglect sends a chilling message to the people of St. Maarten: their children’s lives aren’t worth his time.
Minister Richinel Brug must answer for his failures. His empty rhetoric, refusal to engage with the press, and chronic inaction betray every parent and child in this country. How dare he occupy this critical position of public trust while ignoring a crisis that directly impacts the youth he vowed to protect?
Until tangible action is taken—awareness campaigns launched, resources are allocated, and families supported—Minister Brug’s legacy will be one of apathy and abdication. St. Maarten deserves leaders who prioritize public health over their own convenience, and right now, Minister Brug doesn’t make the cut.
Click here for the Public Service Announcement by Turning Point Foundation.
