GREAT BAY--Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina and Member of Parliament Omar Ottley are scheduled to meet on September 15 to discuss possible additional relief measures for the people of St. Maarten, in what Mercelina described as a willingness to work across political lines for the broader good of the country. The PM extended the invitation and MP Ottley accepted.
The Prime Minister confirmed the planned meeting during the 2026 budget debate while responding to Ottley’s calls for government to do more to ease the financial pressure facing residents. Mercelina said both men have agreed to sit together and examine what can realistically be done within government’s limited financial room.
The planned discussion represents an instance of cooperation between government and an MP outside the governing coalition on an issue directly affecting households. Mercelina made clear that while political differences remain, he is prepared to work with Ottley where proposals can contribute positively to the country and its people.
The Prime Minister stressed that the 2026 budget is not his personal budget, but the budget of the entire government, with the Council of Ministers collectively responsible for the choices and priorities reflected in it.
He acknowledged Ottley’s concerns about the need for greater relief, but said the fiscal space available to government is extremely limited. Despite those constraints, Mercelina said ministries have sought ways to provide support where possible while avoiding measures that could create additional financial problems for the country later.
Among the examples cited were utility support for pensioners and vulnerable groups through the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, continued investment in education and student assistance, efforts to improve public services without increasing costs to residents, and initiatives intended to expand economic opportunities and create employment.
Mercelina said government is also pursuing measures that may not immediately be identified as direct relief but are intended to reduce financial pressure on households over the longer term.
These include strengthening food and fuel security, improving the functioning of government and creating conditions for sustainable economic growth. According to the Prime Minister, addressing the underlying factors that contribute to high household expenses must form part of any serious relief strategy.
Mercelina acknowledged that residents, Ottley and members of government would all like to see more immediate assistance provided.
The challenge, he said, is ensuring that any relief is affordable, sustainable and does not undermine St. Maarten’s long-term financial stability.
Government’s approach, according to Mercelina, is therefore to provide support where possible, protect vulnerable residents and simultaneously address structural issues that contribute to the cost of living.
He invited Ottley to bring forward proposals that could be accommodated within the country’s existing fiscal space and confirmed that the two have already agreed to meet specifically to explore those possibilities.
Mercelina said the September 15 meeting will provide an opportunity for both sides to examine how they can contribute constructively toward measures that benefit the wider population.
He told Parliament that the objective should be for those serving the country, regardless of political position, to be able to look back and know that they worked together to deliver tangible improvements for the people of St. Maarten.
Ottley has repeatedly called during the budget debate for additional measures to reduce the burden on households, particularly in the areas of electricity, fuel and the broader cost of living. The September 15 meeting will now give the Prime Minister and the MP an opportunity to determine whether common ground can be translated into concrete relief proposals.
