St. Maarten to have an approved national budget before the end of the year for the first time in the country's history

GREAT BAY--For the first time in the country’s history, St. Maarten is positioned to have an approved national budget before the end of the year, following the unanimous approval of the 2027 Draft National Budget by the Council of Ministers on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

Minister of Finance Marinka Gumbs said the milestone places the country on track to complete the constitutional budget process within the legally prescribed timeframe. While several important steps remain before final ratification, the Council of Ministers’ approval represents a major step toward ending the long-standing pattern of delayed national budgets.

The achievement follows months of preparation, closer collaboration across Government and a deliberate decision to change the way the national budget is prepared. In presenting the 2026 National Budget to Parliament, Minister Gumbs made clear that repeated budget delays could not continue. The Ministry of Finance therefore examined the underlying causes that had contributed to late budgets over the years and concluded that timely delivery would require a different approach, not simply more effort.

The 2027 budget cycle marked a shift in Government’s approach by starting with strategy rather than numbers alone. In February, the Ministry of Finance launched the cycle with its first Strategic Budget Session, bringing together Ministers, Secretaries-General, Financial Controllers, Chiefs of Staff, the Policy-Based Budgeting team and the Financial Policy Department. Representatives of the CFT also attended as observers.

This collaborative approach continued through regular working sessions and targeted support for ministries that required additional guidance. By engaging ministries earlier in the process, Government was able to better align policy priorities with available resources, identify challenges sooner and improve both the quality and timeliness of budget preparation.

Government also continued the implementation of Policy-Based Budgeting, strengthening the connection between public spending and measurable policy outcomes. Ministries were challenged to clearly define what they intend to accomplish, how those priorities support Government’s broader objectives and how public resources will contribute to results.

Throughout the budget cycle, the Policy-Based Budgeting team within the Ministry of Finance worked closely with every ministry, providing guidance and technical support to improve the consistency and coherence of budget submissions while helping ministries remain on schedule.

Minister Gumbs emphasized that the achievement is a shared one.

“This is not a success that belongs to the Ministry of Finance alone. It belongs to this Government. It belongs to every ministry that committed itself to the process, every civil servant who contributed to the preparation of the policy books, every Financial Controller who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, every Secretary-General who provided leadership within their ministry, and every colleague Minister who took ownership of their ministry’s priorities,” she said.

The Minister thanked her fellow members of the Council of Ministers for embracing a more disciplined budget process, noting that their early engagement, policy choices and active involvement helped make the effort Government-wide.

She also recognized Secretary-General of Finance Roxanne Howell, the Financial Policy Department and the Policy-Based Budgeting team, internally led by Christian Grannum with project management support by Grant Thornton, Jan Ludolf Herees and Robert van Zeeland, for their leadership throughout the reform process.

Often working outside public view, these professionals provided the coordination, judgment and collaborative support needed to turn an ambitious reform effort into a tangible result.

Minister Gumbs said the milestone also establishes a new expectation for Government.

“We have shown that institutional reform is possible. We have demonstrated that with planning, discipline, and collective ownership, St. Maarten can deliver its national budget on time. We have raised the standard. Our responsibility is no longer to prove that it can be done, but to continue improving the quality of our budget submissions while refining our timelines year after year,” she said.

The 2027 Draft National Budget has now been submitted to the CFT for advice. The Minister of Finance has also submitted an Improvement Plan for the 2027 budget process, reflecting her commitment to the timely completion of the national budget.

The remaining stages include review by the Council of Advice before the draft budget is submitted to Parliament.

“This achievement is significant, but it is not the destination. It is evidence that we are moving in the right direction. This Government remains committed to continuously improving both the quality of the budget and the discipline of the process that produces it. The people of St. Maarten deserve nothing less,” Minister Gumbs concluded.

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