MP Peterson's proposed 80% cut to Parliament travel could free up Cg 904,624 for school repairs, other issues

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Raeyhon Peterson's proposal to cut Parliament's travel budget by 80% could redirect Cg 904,624 toward repairs at St. Maarten's public schools, providing a significant increase in funding for school maintenance at a time when the Ministry of Education has acknowledged that existing resources are insufficient to address accumulated repair needs.

According to the proposed 2027 national budget, Parliament has Cg 1,130,780 allocated for travel expenses. An 80% reduction would leave Cg 226,156 available for parliamentary travel, with the remaining Cg 904,624 potentially transferred to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) for comprehensive repairs to public school facilities.

Peterson announced during Wednesday evening's continuation of the 2027 budget debate that he intends to table an amendment to make the transfer possible. He also challenged fellow parliamentarians who have repeatedly criticized the condition of public schools to demonstrate their commitment by supporting a reduction in Parliament's own expenditure.

The Party for Progress MP said he expects the support of colleagues who have been "shooting blanks" about the school maintenance issue while "still traveling to Parlatino," a reference to parliamentary participation in activities of the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament.

His announcement came during a heated exchange about the Ministry of Education's procedures for accepting donations and assistance from elected officials seeking to undertake repairs at public schools.

Rather than individual MPs financing repairs to specific school buildings, Peterson proposed redirecting a substantial portion of Parliament's travel allocation to the ministry responsible for maintaining those facilities.

Existing Public School Maintenance Allocation Is Cg 377,682

A review of the 2027 Getallenboek published on Parliament's website shows that the Division of Public Education has Cg 365,182 allocated for building maintenance under account 427.

An additional Cg 12,500 is provided for other maintenance and repairs under account 428, bringing the combined routine maintenance and repairs allocation to Cg 377,682.

The building maintenance allocation represents an increase of Cg 50,000 compared with the Cg 315,182 budgeted for 2026. However, the total remains relatively limited when considering that the public education system comprises seven schools with varying maintenance and infrastructure requirements.

If Peterson's proposed Cg 904,624 in savings were added entirely to the existing maintenance and repairs allocation, the total amount available would increase to Cg 1,282,306.

That would represent more than three times the amount currently allocated for routine maintenance and repairs under the Division of Public Education.

The proposed transfer would therefore provide a significant additional financial resource without requiring government to introduce new taxes or charges to generate the money.

However, the allocation would still depend on Parliament approving the amendment, the funds being transferred through the appropriate budgetary procedures and the Ministry determining how the additional resources would be used.

Separate Capital Investments Also Identified in Education Budget

The 2027 capital budget identifies additional investments related to educational infrastructure, although these are separate from the routine maintenance allocations for public schools.

The Getallenboek includes Cg 350,000 for drainage, irrigation and playground resurfacing, along with Cg 1,089,973 for the completion of Prins Willem Alexander School in St. Peters.

Together, these two capital allocations amount to Cg 1,439,973.

While both investments relate to educational facilities, they are earmarked for specific purposes and should not be treated as additional general maintenance funding available to repair the seven public schools.

The allocation for Prins Willem Alexander School is particularly significant because it concerns the completion of a specific school project rather than the maintenance of existing facilities.

Similarly, the Cg 350,000 allocated for drainage, irrigation and playground resurfacing represents a separate infrastructure investment and is not interchangeable with the building maintenance budget.

Consequently, the Cg 377,682 allocated under the Division of Public Education remains the more direct comparison when examining the impact of Peterson's proposed transfer.

If approved, the amendment could substantially strengthen the ministry's ability to finance repairs beyond the routine maintenance work currently budgeted.

Minister Gumbs Has Acknowledged Maintenance Challenges

Minister of Education Melissa Gumbs has repeatedly addressed the condition of public schools and the financial challenges involved in maintaining aging educational infrastructure.

During previous discussions, the Minister explained that limited maintenance funding has forced the ministry to prioritize urgent work, while broader repairs and preventive maintenance remain outstanding.

Schools identified as requiring attention include Marie Genevieve de Weever School, Ruby Labega Primary School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School.

Reported maintenance concerns include roof repairs, waterproofing, drainage, plumbing, bathroom facilities and electrical infrastructure needed to support air-conditioning systems.

At Marie Genevieve de Weever School, attention has been drawn to electrical upgrades, plumbing and bathroom facilities. Ruby Labega Primary School has required roof-related work, while Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School has experienced waterproofing and drainage challenges.

The Minister has also emphasized the need to move beyond responding to individual maintenance problems and establish a comprehensive understanding of the structural condition of public school buildings.

To accomplish this, the ministry initiated a Structural Condition Assessment and Prioritized Repair Plan covering all seven public schools.

The assessment is intended to identify outstanding structural problems, determine which repairs require immediate attention, establish priorities and provide government with a realistic estimate of the financing needed.

During her 2027 budget presentation, Gumbs indicated that the tender process for the assessment remained underway, with submissions scheduled to close on November 6.

Until that assessment has been completed, government does not yet have a finalized and comprehensive cost estimate for bringing all seven public schools up to the required standard.

That means Peterson's proposed Cg 904,624 transfer cannot yet be measured against the full cost of the repairs needed. Nevertheless, it could provide a substantial starting point for addressing priority maintenance concerns once the ministry establishes the necessary scope of work.

A Broader Funding Challenge for Education

The proposed reallocation also comes as the Ministry of Education faces financial pressures extending beyond routine building maintenance.

During the 2027 budget deliberations, Minister Gumbs identified an estimated Cg 11.8 million funding gap across ECYS, including approximately Cg 6.1 million in education-related needs.

These amounts cover broader ministry requirements and should not be interpreted as the cost of repairing public school buildings.

They nevertheless demonstrate the financial challenges facing the ministry as it seeks to address school infrastructure, staffing, educational support and other priorities.

Against that background, Peterson's proposed transfer presents an opportunity to direct money already included in the national budget toward a problem that MPs across political lines have repeatedly identified as requiring urgent attention.

Peterson Challenges MPs to Match Criticism With Action

Peterson's announcement followed criticism from parliamentarians concerning the Ministry of Education's donation procedures, particularly restrictions affecting elected officials who wish to personally finance structural repairs at public schools.

The MP defended the ministry's approach, arguing that structural work on public buildings raises questions about liability, accountability, procurement and the potential appearance of political influence.

He maintained that there are important differences between private businesses assisting schools and elected officials becoming personally associated with repair projects.

Peterson suggested that his proposed amendment offers a more appropriate avenue for MPs wishing to contribute to improving school conditions.

Rather than individual parliamentarians seeking permission to undertake repairs, Parliament itself could collectively provide additional resources through the national budget.

The proposal also introduces a broader discussion about spending priorities within Parliament, including the balance between international parliamentary representation and urgent domestic needs.

The 2027 travel allocation of Cg 1,130,780 is already below the Cg 1,199,983 budgeted for 2026. Peterson's proposal would reduce it substantially further.

Whether the remaining Cg 226,156 would be sufficient to cover Parliament's essential travel obligations is one of the questions that would need to be considered when the amendment is formally presented.

For now, the proposal remains an announced intention rather than an approved budget amendment.

However, by identifying a specific allocation and proposing a measurable reduction, Peterson has placed a financial alternative before his colleagues.

With public school maintenance and repairs currently allocated Cg 377,682, the prospect of redirecting another Cg 904,624 gives Parliament an opportunity to consider whether a substantial portion of its travel expenditure should instead be invested in school facilities.

The next question is whether the MPs who have been most vocal about the condition of those facilities will support the proposed transfer when it comes before Parliament.

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