GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Francisco Lacroes has submitted a budget amendment proposing a five percent reduction in government travel allocations, with the funds redirected toward supporting young athletes and sports development in St. Maarten.
Lacroes presented the amendment during the handling of the 2026 national budget, arguing that government and Parliament should be willing to make a modest sacrifice in travel spending if it can create more opportunities for young people who have earned the chance to represent St. Maarten internationally.
The MP said he deliberately limited the proposed reduction to five percent, particularly because the country is already eight months into the financial year. He described the amount as a starting point and said even relatively small adjustments in government spending could make a difference for young athletes who struggle to finance travel, competition expenses and other costs associated with representing St. Maarten abroad.
Lacroes pointed to the recent experience of young athlete Wyatt, whose coach, family and friends had to publicly seek financial assistance to enable him to travel and represent the country. He said situations such as this should cause policymakers to examine whether more can be done to ensure talented young people have access to support when opportunities arise.
He acknowledged that government funding cannot simply be provided immediately when an athlete or sports organization sends a request. There are procedures that must be followed, particularly when funding was not already included in the budget. Lacroes said part of the challenge is that some sports federations may not fully understand the process required to properly request financial assistance from government.
Nevertheless, he maintained that the country should find ways to strengthen support for athletes with the potential to compete at higher levels. Lacroes suggested that government officials and institutions could make small adjustments, such as reducing a trip, replacing some travel with virtual meetings or limiting the size of delegations, to create additional room for investment in young athletes.
The MP also raised questions about travel allocations that have already been substantially used with four months remaining in the year. He said Parliament is awaiting further information concerning the relevant budget posts and indicated that he remains open to making adjustments to his amendment depending on the information provided.
Lacroes said the broader objective is to create opportunities for St. Maarten’s young athletes to reach major international stages. He expressed hope that one day the country could see its own athletes reach events such as the World Cup or other major competitions, creating a moment in which residents could rally behind a St. Maarten team and celebrate the country’s presence on the international sporting stage.
He said such success would have an impact beyond the individual athlete or team, as international achievement could also bring greater attention to other sports, encourage young people to become involved and strengthen sports federations throughout the country.
For Lacroes, the amendment is also intended to demonstrate that government spending choices can reflect national priorities. He said supporting youth should not be limited to statements about their importance, but should also be reflected in decisions about how available public resources are allocated.
Lacroes said the proposed five percent travel reduction should be viewed as a practical contribution toward giving young people more opportunities to represent St. Maarten, develop their talents and potentially take the country to sporting stages where its flag and athletes can gain greater international recognition.
