GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Omar Ottley is questioning whether the 2027 national budget contains any meaningful relief related to GEBE, arguing that submitting the budget on time will mean little if households and businesses continue carrying high electricity costs without concrete intervention from government.
Ottley said he was disappointed to hear issues he has raised repeatedly over the past two years again being highlighted as matters still requiring action. He said the public cannot continue waiting while government studies, consults and prepares additional regulatory steps.
“The people cannot afford to keep waiting when decisions need to be made,” Ottley said.
With Parliament now in possession of Budget 2027, Ottley said he hopes some form of GEBE relief has been included. However, he questioned how likely that is while government continues to indicate that it is awaiting additional information from the Bureau Telecommunications and Post, BTP, despite an earlier BTP report having been issued in April 2025.
Ottley said that after 18 months from the initial RAC-BTP report, the public is still waiting for action.
He questioned what government intends to do if the latest BTP information confirms existing concerns surrounding GEBE’s electricity tariffs and costs.
Ottley again called on government to consider regulation through a Ministerial Regulation using the Price Ordinance, particularly in the absence of a national decree containing general measures, or LBHAM.
He said that if the new information confirms concerns that have already been raised, government should no longer be able to argue that the matter remains under study.
“For two years, MP Ottley has been warning that the cost of electricity is placing an unacceptable burden on households and businesses,” the release stated.
Ottley also pointed to periods when the fuel clause increased while the price of oil per barrel was declining. He said government has tools available and, if it is unwilling to adjust tariffs through Ministerial Regulation, should consider using its authority to regulate maximum prices on fuel imported for electricity generation.
The MP was also critical of the emphasis placed on government having submitted Budget 2027 on time.
“Submitting a budget on time is not the same as submitting a budget that actually addresses the problems confronting the people of St. Maarten,” Ottley said.
He added that an on-time budget “means very little if it has zero revenue generating measures and doesn’t ease the burden of the people.”
Ottley said he has already used several avenues to push for electricity relief, including motions in Parliament, town hall meetings, a public petition and the submission of a draft Ministerial Regulation.
Despite those efforts, he said government has taken no action that has brought residents closer to seeing relief on their bills.
“The people have waited through reports. They have waited through consultations. They have waited for regulatory changes. They have waited for promises of relief,” the release stated.
Ottley said that if Budget 2027 does not contain a meaningful allocation or concrete mechanism for GEBE relief, government should explain why.
He argued that there is a contradiction between government emphasizing the importance of meeting its budget submission deadline while residents continue waiting for regulation intended to address electricity costs.
Ottley is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina on September 15 to again discuss the high cost of living and possible relief for households and businesses.
The meeting will be the second time he engages government directly on the issue. His previous meeting was in November 2025 with the Minister of TEATT, when he presented a draft Ministerial Regulation based on the Price Ordinance aimed at regulating maximum prices for water, electricity, heavy fuel oil, light fuel oil and lubricants.
Ottley said he intends to again highlight the regulatory tools he believes are already available to government, including the Price Ordinance and the ability to regulate maximum prices and profit margins where necessary.
He said his objective is to see greater transparency on electricity and fuel prices within months rather than having residents wait another year and a half under the government’s proposed regulatory approach through an LBHAM.
“The people of St. Maarten have heard enough about studies, frameworks and future intentions,” Ottley said. “They need to see and feel the difference in their monthly bills and their daily cost of living.”
