GREAT BAY--Establishing a permanent school breakfast program for approximately 400 vulnerable children in St. Maarten would require an estimated Cg 576,000 every year, Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport (ECYS) Melissa Gumbs told Parliament on Friday, warning that while reallocating money from Parliament's travel budget could help finance school repairs, it would not provide a sustainable solution for feeding children year after year.
The Minister made the comments during the continuation of the 2027 national budget debate, responding to concerns raised by Members of Parliament about food insecurity among students, the future of existing breakfast initiatives and the financial pressures facing public education.
Gumbs explained that the Ministry is confronted with difficult choices between urgent school infrastructure repairs and recurring social programs, both of which require substantial resources. She emphasized that although reallocating existing government expenditure could address certain immediate needs, long-term programs require dependable annual financing.
Her remarks came amid parliamentary discussions about reducing Parliament's travel budget and redirecting the savings toward public school repairs and other educational priorities.
The Minister acknowledged the potential value of such an amendment, but cautioned that a one-time reallocation cannot permanently finance a program that must operate every school year.
She used school infrastructure costs to illustrate the competing demands on the education budget, revealing that replacing the roof at Ruby Labega Primary School alone is estimated to cost approximately Cg 300,000.
At the same time, she noted, several MPs have been calling for government to establish a structured school breakfast program, which would require Cg 576,000 annually to provide breakfast and a mid-morning snack to approximately 400 children.
Gumbs explained that while Parliament could potentially redirect funding to address some school repairs, it could not rely on the travel budget year after year to sustain a school feeding initiative.
Existing Breakfast Support Across Public Schools
The Minister also provided additional information about breakfast assistance currently available within the public education system.
She indicated that existing breakfast allocations across public schools total approximately Cg 39,550, with support distributed among schools including Marie Genevieve de Weever School and other public primary schools.
Gumbs also identified additional assistance through a Rotary-supported initiative, citing Cg 4,410 in support. The figures were presented as part of her explanation of existing assistance, although she did not establish a comparable annual funding period for each amount in the clarification.
She explained that schools maintain records of vulnerable students requiring breakfast assistance, allowing the education system to identify children who need nutritional support.
However, the existing arrangements are considerably more limited than the proposed comprehensive breakfast initiative for 400 students.
The Minister's explanation highlighted the difference between providing assistance through individual school allocations, charitable contributions and targeted initiatives, and establishing a permanent program capable of serving hundreds of children consistently throughout the school year.
Cg 50,000 Breakfast Initiative and 60 Beneficiaries
The discussion followed questions from MP Sjamira Roseburg concerning the future of a breakfast initiative funded through a Cg 50,000 allocation approved by Parliament in 2025.
Roseburg questioned whether a permanent program had been established and what arrangements would be made for approximately 60 children currently benefiting from that initiative once the existing funding is exhausted.
Gumbs explained that the Cg 50,000 allocation falls under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), which has primary responsibility for the initiative in collaboration with ECYS.
Consequently, she said, VSA would be responsible for providing a detailed update on its implementation and the arrangements for the children currently receiving assistance.
The Minister nevertheless confirmed that ECYS and VSA collaborated in 2025 to develop a structured Healthy Breakfast Program, with input from representatives of General Healthcare and the Division of Public Education.
The proposal was completed at the technical level and submitted through the appropriate channels for further consideration.
Under the proposed arrangement, approximately 400 students would receive breakfast and a mid-morning snack, at a preliminary estimated annual cost of Cg 576,000.
However, the program has not been presented as fully funded or approved for implementation. Further decisions concerning its financing and operational arrangements would be required, with VSA taking the lead in cooperation with ECYS.
The Minister also confirmed that the Division of Public Education continues to provide breakfast assistance to vulnerable students across public schools.
School Repairs Versus Feeding Children
Gumbs placed particular emphasis on the challenge of financing both school infrastructure improvements and recurring nutritional assistance.
She said the demands being made of the Ministry reflect the difficult conversations government must have about priorities, available resources and what the national budget can realistically accommodate.
On one hand, Parliament has repeatedly raised concerns about deteriorating school buildings, including damaged roofs, maintenance backlogs and facilities requiring extensive repairs.
On the other, MPs have called for a permanent breakfast program to ensure that vulnerable children are not attending classes hungry.
Both objectives are important, the Minister indicated, but they place different demands on government finances.
Infrastructure repairs generally require substantial project financing, while a school feeding program creates an annual obligation that must be sustained beyond the year in which it is introduced.
Gumbs suggested that redirecting Parliament's travel expenditure could potentially address some or even most outstanding public school repairs, depending on the work required and the amount made available.
However, she stressed that the same funding approach would not resolve the recurring cost of feeding students, since the program would need financial support every year.
The Minister's comparison also placed Parliament's proposed budget amendments in a broader context, suggesting that decisions about allocating savings must account for the long-term financial commitments associated with the programs receiving support.
Gumbs maintained that the underlying solution to these competing financial demands is for St. Maarten to generate more government revenue, allowing the national budget to expand and accommodate essential programs without continually forcing choices between important public services.
She linked this need to the broader parliamentary debate about revenue-generating measures and the challenge of adequately financing government priorities.
The Minister said she welcomed Parliament's consideration of amendments but emphasized that deciding which proposals should receive available funding ultimately rests with MPs.
