PHILIPSBURG:--- Concerns are growing across St. Maarten as several sectors express frustration over unpaid invoices, stalled projects, and what many describe as a widening gap between government priorities and the needs of workers and vendors.
While politicians within the URSM-led coalition, including ministers, Members of Parliament, and cabinet staff, continue to receive salaries, per diems, and other allowances on time, numerous vendors and essential service providers say they are still waiting for payment for work completed months ago.
Frontline Workers on Go-Slow Since April
Essential frontline workers have reportedly been on a “go-slow” since April 2025, citing long-standing issues over pay and working conditions. Rather than addressing their concerns, Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina urged the WICSU-PSU union to instruct its members to return to work, a move that has sparked further criticism.
Union representatives say the government’s response has been dismissive, and that the situation reflects a broader lack of engagement with labor issues under the current administration.
Market Vendors Still Waiting
Market vendors in Philipsburg are also expressing disappointment, noting that the long-promised new marketplace remains unbuilt. Last year, the Minister of TEATT and members of the Democratic Party (DP) publicly laid a ceremonial “first block” for the project, but since then, there has been no visible progress on construction.
Justice Workers Await Landsbesluiten
In the justice sector, members of the NAPB and other justice workers continue to wait for their official Landsbesluiten, documents needed to finalize their legal employment status and salary adjustments. The process, which had been moving forward under former Ministers of Justice Anna Richardson and Lyndon Lewis, has reportedly stalled under the current government.
Private Sector Asked to Fund Public Duties
Business leaders are also raising eyebrows after being approached to contribute significant sums to cover government-related expenses. Private businesses have been asked to provide approximately half a million dollars to support crime prevention initiatives during the holiday season.
Earlier this week, DP MP Viren Kotai was seen in accompanying the Minister of TEATT to a meeting with the Harbor Group of Companies, a government-owned entity, in what sources described as an effort to secure additional funding. The move has prompted questions about the separation of powers and the ethical role of MPs in government financial matters.
Private Funding for Public Infrastructure
In another instance, the Minister of VROMI announced that private businesses in the Pelican area would finance the paving of Billy Folly Road, a project estimated at another half a million dollars. Critics argue that the government’s growing reliance on private funding for public infrastructure highlights poor fiscal management.
Mounting Public Concern
The developments have fueled public frustration and accusations of hypocrisy toward government officials who continue to receive timely compensation and travel benefits while leaving contractors, workers, and service providers waiting.
As one concerned business owner put it, “The private sector can’t keep paying for government’s responsibilities. We’re reaching a breaking point.”
