SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - In order to break the cycle of energy insecurity, and to expedite the integration of renewable energy into St. Maarten’s electricity grid, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, Grisha Heyliger-Marten has forwarded a draft “Net Metering Policy” and a complementary “Net Metering Pilot Program Policy” to the Management of GEBE.

The minister has at the same time requested that the utility company carry out a comprehensive review of the pilot program within two weeks.

The innovative plan aims to empower residents and businesses to become active participants in a more sustainable energy future. The pilot program, targeted for a three-week rollout, will allow consumers to generate their own clean energy and contribute excess power back to the grid.

The Minister also requested GEBE to propose, within two weeks, a competitive standardized Buy-back Rate for excess energy generated by participants in the pilot program.

Heyliger-Marten further asked GEBE to submit drafts of the application forms (digital and hard-copy) for the pilot program, including the format for self-declaration of system compliance and provide an outline of clearly defined standards for self-certification and a draft standard interconnection agreement within two weeks for her approval.

“It is our intention to roll out the pilot program within three weeks. The current electricity crisis demands immediate action to ensure reliable and affordable energy for all residents and businesses. I urge GEBE to treat this matter with the utmost urgency,” Heyliger-Marten stated in her letter to Troy Washington, temporary Managing Director of GEBE N.V. She had previously met with representatives of the company that included Washington, Patrick Drijvers, and Dennis Richardson.

Minister Heyliger-Marten wasted no time in demanding accountability from GEBE. The Minister highlighted the company’s ongoing violation of its concession agreement, which mandates a minimum 2% annual increase in renewable energy production – a target consistently missed.

Furthermore, the Minister pointed to past studies and plans commissioned by GEBE itself that included net metering, but never came to fruition. “This lack of progress towards a more sustainable energy future is unacceptable as it jeopardizes the island’s energy security and also contradicts the core principles of reliable, clean and affordable electricity outlined in the concession agreement.”

The draft Net Metering Policy was prepared by BTP Curacao in 2012. The policy was commissioned by former Minister of VROMI Theo Heyliger in 2011. Subsequently, following a change of government, the draft policy was presented to the former Minister of TEATT in 2012.

The draft policy indicated that the next step was to develop an implementation plan for net metering. The draft policy languished for years, as nothing was done by successive governments with it.

The pilot project proposed by Minister Heyliger-Marten will establish the viability of net metering as a means of achieving a more sustainable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity production that would resolve some of the challenges GEBE NV is currently facing, declared the Minister.

“The current electricity crisis demands immediate action. The pilot program isn’t just about empowering consumers – it’s about breaking our dependence on traditional energy sources. By embracing renewable energy, St. Maarten can achieve greater energy security and environmental responsibility,” Heyliger-Marten concluded.

SINT MAARTEN 9GREAT BAY) - This July 2nd, the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and Caribbean Liquors & Tobacco (CLT) jointly kicked off production of the 2025 SHTA Events Calendar. Island organizations can submit their events for 2025 for promotion by the association and its partners.

Though many events supported by the beverage distributor have been featured on the calendar’s previous editions, it is the first time CLT will be its main supporter. Brand Manager Gisele Greaux of CLT: "We are thrilled to actively cooperate on this yearly tradition, and to play our part in showing the island is a vibrant and lively destination". Amongst many others, CLT is island distributor of world famous brands like Hennessy, Moët&Chandon, and Disaronno. CLT will announce the brands of choice featuring the 2025 calendar along the road to the New Year's distribution campaign.

In 2016, SHTA research into the attraction of St. Maarten to tourists led to the conclusion that its liveliness was one of seven key factors making the island unique within the Caribbean region. With the expanding annual calendar, SHTA tries to on-brand amplify the message of private sector, NGO and Government entities making that key feature a reality with their events.

A traditional element of the calendar is promoting island art and music by highlighting a cultural icon on top. Next to carnival scenes, previous famous cultural icons were culture advocate Clara Reyes (2020), steel pan celebrity Isidore "Dow" York (2021), calypsonian "King Beaubeau" Brooks (2023) and painters Roland Richardson (2022) and Ruby Bute (2024). The 2025 cultural icon will be announced shortly; SHTA remains open for cultural icon nominations for its 2026 edition and beyond.

The 2025 calendar will be the largest edition thus far measured in print and digital dispersion. The 2024 printed edition ran out of stock halfway through 2024, making further expansion a necessity. Apart from active distribution throughout the island, SHTA membership and beyond, the calendar remains an important "business card" for the destination towards visitors, travel agents, foreign dignitaries and journalists. As has been the case over the past three years, the calendar will also be featured in the association’s official in-room hotel book VISIT St. Maarten / St. Martin and its website visitstmaarten.com.

Should organizations or individuals have calendars from previous years still, SHTA welcomes those returning. Apart from requests for previous calendars as a collector’s item, SHTA wants to contribute to proper recycling and re-use of the A0 calendars.

SHTA looks forward to jointly work on the calendar with CLT. The association is also grateful for the ongoing annual cooperation on the calendar with Grant Thornton, Telem Group, Amasterdam, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau and l'Office du Tourisme. The association calls on companies, NGOs and Government entities planning events to submit their dates for the calendar to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before November 1st 2024. As always, island residents can reserve free copies via the same e-mail address.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Infrastructure Management and Environment (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs signed the road resurfacing agreement with Windward Roads, paving the way for current roads to be fixed be upgraded. Since taking office, Minister Gumbs’ focus has been on rebuilding trust within and for the Ministry of VROMI to the public. As such several policy measures are being implemented. 

One way in which Gumbs indicated this trust can be rebuilt is by providing quality infrastructure to the people of Sint Maarten. To this end, a review of existing practices within the Ministry was undertaken within the last two weeks. Moving forward, roads will consist of 6-8cm of asphalt versus the current 4cm standard. In addition, the quality of paint used in road markings (lines, crosswalks, etc.) will be upgraded. These enhanced measures will mean fewer, but far better roads, within the scope of the road resurfacing project. A total of Nafls 5.6 million has been set aside for these works. 

“For far too long the focus has been on quick fixes and paving roads, without priority given to sustainability and quality of the road, under my mandate this is going to change”. 

Gumbs noted that when he took office, the Ministry had been busy for months with road hard surfacing. While long overdue, without the addition of proper drainage, the risk of flooding and long settling of water in low lying areas will increase. The Minister noted that these quick fixes, without proper infrastructure, aren’t sustainable, and we have already noticed erosion in some areas. This is a major issue on Sint Maarten and the Gumbs will undertake a comprehensive review of the list of roads for hard surfacing and resurfacing to ensure that improved drainage is part of long-term plans at the Ministry. 

During the signing ceremony, Minister Gumbs also spoke to Windward roads about the possibility of using recycled materials within road works, to address the solid waste problem on Sint Maarten. Gumbs stressed going forward VROMI’s development plans must be driven by sustainability, innovation, and vision if the objective is truly about quality of life for all on Sint Maarten.

SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY – By Rosalinda Martina) - Prison has recently been in the news due to a series of troubling incidents, including assaults and a severe shortage of personnel. These issues highlight the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address the challenges faced by both prison guards and inmates.

For years, prison guards have voiced concerns about inadequate staff shortages, which compromise safety and security at the facility. The persistent absenteeism of guards exacerbates these shortages, leading to overworked and underappreciated staff. In some cases guards are transferred to other departments within the Justice Ministry but remain on the prison's budget which adds strain to the financial resources.

This budget discrepancy must be corrected to ensure that funds are allocated to active guards and to facilitate the hiring of additional staff. Another budget-related issue is the payment of overtime. Currently, overtime is capped at forty hours per month, and guards who work beyond this limit are not immediately compensated.

Further to that point, some guards are not paid according to their current functions with their salaries remaining unchanged despite new roles and responsibilities. Addressing these pay discrepancies is crucial for improving morale.

Recognizing the daily risks prison guards face, it is imperative for them to receive consistent training and better salaries to ensure that they are well-equipped and motivated to work. Notably, a class of prison guards has not been sworn in since 2019. There should be no further delays in this process.

Immediate action by the current Minister of Justice is necessary to fill the gaps and resolve this issue. Inmates at Pointe Blanche have also raised significant concerns. Basic amenities, such as washing machines, have been out of service for extended periods, with no timeline for repairs.

They are also dealing with insect infestations and the lack of a nurse available for the night shift in case of emergencies. Inmates are uncertain about the calculation of their release dates and have expressed interest in rehabilitation programs.

Rehabilitation programs are vital for reducing recidivism, boosting inmates' self-esteem and aiding their reintegration into society. A comprehensive reintegration program would provide the necessary support and assistance for inmates transitioning back into their communities upon release.

Addressing these concerns should be a priority for the Ministry of Justice to curb crime on the island and reduce repeat offenses. The recent attack on an inmate on May 26th highlights severe security lapses within the prison. The attackers accessed an isolation area through multiple doors that should have been locked, raising suspicions of internal corruption. Since the attackers have remained unidentified, this highlights the need for increased security measures.

There also seems to be a disconnect between management and prison guards, within management itself, and among the guards. The lack of confidentiality, transparency, and cohesion hampers effective communication and collaboration which contribute to a dysfunctional work environment.

The Minister of Justice, Lyndon Lewis, has acknowledged the presence of corruption within the prison and expressed a commitment to eradicating it. One must not just acknowledge corruption but take immediate steps to eliminate it. Increasing the number of guards on duty would enhance monitoring and security which will reduce the likelihood of such incidents.

Additionally, upgrading the prison's security system which includes installing and maintaining functional cameras and improving lighting is crucial in preventing violence and corruption. The conditions at Pointe Blanche Prison demand immediate and comprehensive reforms.

Addressing staff shortages, ensuring timely training and adequate compensation for guards, and improving inmate welfare through better amenities and rehabilitation programs are essential steps.

Strengthening security measures and rooting out corruption within the facility will create a safer and more humane environment for both guards and inmates. These points represent just a few of the many issues faced by both prison guards and inmates. To foster a more conducive working environment, prison guards need to unite and present their concerns to management.

If these efforts do not lead to resolutions, the next step is to escalate the grievances to the Minister of Justice. The safety and well-being of prison guards are paramount as they carry out their duties. While inmates have committed crimes, they retain human rights, and their safety and well-being are the responsibility of the government of Sint Maarten.

Prioritizing these reforms will lead to a more effective correctional facility, benefiting the entire community.

Rosalinda Martina