GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Patrice Gumbs told Parliament that VROMI is operating with approximately 50 vacancies and only 65 percent of its approved staffing complement, even as the Ministry continues to carry responsibility for housing, roads, drainage, waste management, spatial planning, environmental protection and other critical infrastructure.

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten is confronting two significant capacity and financial realities as Government presents its 2026 Budget to Parliament: a major personnel shortage within the Ministry of General Affairs and public debt projected to reach approximately Cg. 1.047 billion by the end of 2026.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Claret Connor presented a 2026 VSA budget of just under XCG 109 million, an increase of approximately 12 percent over 2025, while stressing that much of the Ministry’s funding is already committed to healthcare, social assistance and other essential obligations.

GREAT BAY--Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs has become what appears to be the first political figure to publicly declare an intention to contest St. Maarten’s next scheduled parliamentary election in 2028, and she did so without any formal announcement, campaign launch or political fanfare.

SXM AIRPORT--The Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) on Thursday announced that construction has officially begun on its new Curbside Check-In facility. This is an important infrastructure improvement designed to add much-needed capacity, improve operational efficiency and provide passengers with a more convenient and seamless airport experience.

GREAT BAY--Youth and Sport (ECYS), with approximately Cg. 77.5 million allocated in the 2026 Budget, as Minister Melissa Gumbs outlined a wide-ranging agenda covering education reform, cultural preservation, youth development, sports, digital transformation and major externally funded projects.