~ CEO position under review~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten provided an important update today on the progress and future direction of national utility company GEBE. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to regulatory oversight, the Minister detailed new steps being taken to ensure reliable service, compliance, and consumer protection.
The Minister began by placing the government’s involvement in context, recalling that the Prime Minister led a stabilization phase at GEBE in recent months to ensure service continuity for the community. Now, Heyliger-Marten noted, with stability restored and a new Supervisory Board, CFO, and COO in place, the time is right for GEBE to move into a phase focused on regulation, compliance, and lawful tariff oversight under TEATT. She also addressed the CEO position, confirming that it is currently under review and no further comment can be offered until the process is complete.
On January 20th, the Minister formally instructed GEBE to demonstrate compliance with its electricity concession and to submit a proposed tariff structure within 30 days. She explained that this activates formal compliance mechanisms, a process not used in many years, and is an essential step toward responsible regulation.
The review of any proposed tariff changes will be based on the findings of the BTP/RAC evaluation completed in April 2025. This evaluation highlighted areas for improvement, specifically in data, transparency, and reporting, which must be addressed before any tariff changes are considered.
Minister Heyliger-Marten emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure that inefficiencies are not passed on to consumers. She stated that any new tariff structure must be transparent, non-discriminatory, and include suitable social protections, particularly for seniors.
In conclusion, the Minister reiterated that GEBE is a government-owned company serving the people of Sint Maarten and must always operate in their best interests. The new compliance measures and regulatory steps reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to responsible oversight and improved public service.
