MPs press ministers on GEBE relief and projects during 2027 budget debate
MPs Omar Ottley and Lyndon Lewis raised questions on electricity relief, public spending, employee payments and delayed projects on 3 November.
Members of Parliament Omar Ottley and Lyndon Lewis raised questions for ministers during debate on the draft 2027 National Budget on Tuesday 3 November. Their questions covered GEBE electricity relief, garbage collection, public-sector payments, financial assistance and government projects.
Ottley asked how many households have received electricity relief, how applications are assessed and how much government contributes alongside a Cg 1.5 million allocation from GEBE. He also asked whether government could use GEBE's projected Cg 8 million concession payment for bill reductions, and questioned the electricity tariff structure and the fuel clause.
Read the full story190 more words
Ottley also sought answers from Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs on the garbage-collection tender, including the reported reduction in the collection budget from about Cg 7.6 million in 2026 to Cg 6.8 million in 2027. He asked about pothole repairs, Fire Department retroactive payments, the proposed tourist tax, immigration rules affecting children born in Sint Maarten, housing repairs and consultant spending.
On financial assistance, Ottley questioned why about Cg 8.2 million was budgeted for 2027 when expenditure was expected to reach about Cg 10 million. He also asked VSA Minister Claret Connor for details of about Cg 800,000 set aside for preparations for General Health Insurance.
Lewis questioned government on salaries and retroactive payments for public servants, including retired Justice Ministry employees. He also asked Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina for updates on Temporary Work Organization projects and World Bank-supported studies, including their cost, completed reports and implementation of recommendations.
Lewis asked Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs how the proposed Educational Care Center would serve students with behavioural challenges. He also asked whether support could be expanded for students with learning difficulties, including dyslexia and dyscalculia.
File photo: Richie Diesterheft / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0 · cropped, SXM Today mark added
