VROMI Minister Gumbs: Land allocation being finalized for GEBE’s first solar farm

GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure, VROMI, Patrice Gumbs has announced that his ministry is finalizing the allocation of land for what he described as the first solar farm to be operated by utility company GEBE, signaling movement toward a larger role for renewable energy in St. Maarten’s electricity infrastructure.

Gumbs made the disclosure during the 2026 budget debate while responding to questions about energy policy, renewable energy and VROMI’s role in implementation.

The minister said the country’s broader energy policy requires coordination between multiple ministries, but argued that practical renewable-energy projects should not necessarily be delayed while every aspect of the overarching policy is completed.

From VROMI’s implementation perspective, Gumbs said the ministry has placed strong emphasis on renewable energy and is currently finalizing the land allocation required for GEBE’s first solar farm.

He did not provide the proposed location, generating capacity, investment value or construction timeline during his response, meaning those elements remain to be clarified as the project advances.

The announcement is significant because one of the practical barriers to larger renewable-energy projects in St. Maarten is identifying and legally securing sufficient land for infrastructure.

VROMI has responsibility for the management and allocation of government land, placing the ministry in a central position when public property is required for projects tied to energy, housing or other infrastructure.

Gumbs’ comments indicate that the land component for the proposed GEBE solar project has moved beyond the conceptual stage and is now being finalized within VROMI.

The minister said renewable energy is also being incorporated into the ministry’s wider planning approach, including its housing policy, as government attempts to integrate energy considerations into future development.

He stressed that implementation does not always have to wait until a complete policy framework is finalized, particularly where practical steps can already be taken within the authority of individual ministries.

The proposed solar farm comes as St. Maarten continues discussing the future of electricity generation, energy costs and the need to reduce dependence on imported fuel.

Gumbs did not indicate during his response what percentage of GEBE’s generation capacity the proposed facility could eventually represent, nor did he provide details on whether the project would be financed directly by GEBE or through another financing structure.

The immediate development confirmed by the minister is the land allocation process.

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