Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina announces additional Cg. 400,000 as government launches Restoring Utility Affordability initiative
PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina announced Wednesday that N.V. GEBE will provide a total of Cg. 1.5 million in utility assistance during 2027, with senior citizens and vulnerable families expected to benefit from the expanded relief programme.
Mercelina made the announcement as GEBE marked 66 years of service to Sint Maarten and government launched the Restoring Utility Affordability for the People of Sint Maarten initiative.
According to the Prime Minister, GEBE will provide an additional Cg. 400,000 in direct relief and community support. This will increase the total amount allocated for 2027 to Cg. 1.5 million.
Mercelina said the 2027 allocation represents three times the level of assistance provided when the programme was initiated in 2024.
“We started in 2024 with a subsidy of 500,000, and now we are already at 1.5 million. In cooperation with GEBE, we are going to serve the people of Sint Maarten, especially the elderly and those who are more vulnerable in our society,” the Prime Minister said.
The funding will come from GEBE.
Responding to questions during the Council of Ministers press briefing, Mercelina said the utility company is the source of the funding and acknowledged GEBE’s willingness to contribute to the relief programme.
“The funding—the resource—is GEBE. So, we have to acknowledge the goodwill of this company to contribute to this effort,” Mercelina stated.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor and GEBE are negotiating how to distribute additional financial support.
The VSA Ministry will help identify eligible senior citizens and a broader group of vulnerable families who may qualify for assistance.
Mercelina stressed that the process must be properly coordinated, transparent, and focused on ensuring that relief reaches households experiencing genuine financial difficulty.
“Our senior citizens have contributed throughout their lives to the development of Sint Maarten. They deserve our support,” Mercelina said.
He added that government also recognizes that many vulnerable families are struggling with the cost of living and their monthly utility expenses.
According to the Prime Minister, the government insisted that the assistance be expanded so that more households would be able to benefit.
“This increase is not simply about numbers. It is about providing meaningful assistance to the people who need it the most,” he said.
Mercelina described the additional Cg. 400,000 as a further commitment to supporting the people of Sint Maarten. He said increasing the overall amount to Cg. 1.5 million demonstrates that government is listening and responding to the realities facing the community.
The Prime Minister did not announce when applications for assistance would open or provide the eligibility requirements that will be used to select beneficiaries. He said the VSA Ministry and GEBE remain in negotiations concerning the distribution of the support.