PHILIPSBURG:--- As the countdown to the New Year begins, the people of St. Maarten are left looking back not with hope, but with profound disappointment. Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina’s first full year in office has been defined less by the solutions he promised from the campaign podium and more by a disturbing pattern of evasion, misleading statements, and administrative failure. Mercelina took office in May 2024 and to date there is no real progress.
The most glaring stain on this administration is the disgraceful treatment of our frontline workers. The ongoing go-slow action by firefighters and ambulance personnel isn't just a labor dispute; it is a direct indictment of a leader who seems to have forgotten the people who risk their lives for us.
A Crisis of Trust, Not Paperwork
The Prime Minister’s handling of the WICSU/PSU union negotiations has been nothing short of a debacle. He stood before Parliament and claimed a commitment to resolving grievances regarding retroactive pay and career progression. Yet, when pressed, the truth came out: there was no binding commitment. He lied to the unions, he misled Parliament, and he attempted to backtrack when the pressure mounted.
MP Darryl York hit the nail on the head in a recent parliamentary address that should echo into 2026. He rightly accused Dr. Mercelina of governing through email chains and "seven excuses wrapped in administrative language" rather than direct, human engagement. You cannot solve a crisis of trust with a memo. You cannot feed a family with a non-binding presentation.
The Prime Minister’s defense—that he "inherited" these problems—has worn thin. While it is true that Dr. Mercelina did not manufacture two decades of neglect, he campaigned on having the specific remedies to cure it. Instead of the surgeon we were promised, we got a tourist. After a year and seven months in office, the Prime Minister seems more accustomed to the comforts of first-class travel and per diem allowances than to the gritty reality of solving national issues.
The GEBE Debacle
The failure extends beyond the emergency services. Look no further than GEBE, the island’s sole utility company, which remains rudderless without a management board. The Supervisory Board of Directors (SBOD) submitted candidate names back in July 2024. Yet, here we are facing a new year with no appointments made by the shareholder.
Dr. Mercelina loves to speak of corporate governance, but his actions at GEBE tell a different story. He bypassed standard protocols to forcefully appoint Jeffreyson Paris as COO—a figure whose previous tenure in Curaçao ended in layoffs for questionable reasons. This hypocrisy undermines the very institutions he swore to protect.
Time for Accountability
As 2025 closes, the nation is in a precarious position. Emergency services are compromised because workers feel disrespected. Essential utilities are in limbo due to political maneuvering. The Prime Minister’s strategy of hiding behind "inherited problems" while enjoying the perks of the office is an insult to every voter who believed his campaign rhetoric.
St. Maarten deserves better than excuses. We deserve a leader who honors their words, respects our frontline heroes, and prioritizes the public good over personal comfort. Dr. Mercelina, the honeymoon is over. The time for presentations has passed. In 2026, we demand execution, accountability, and the restoration of the public trust you have so carelessly eroded.
