~Total is Cg.1.5M~
PHILIPSBURG--Utility support for seniors and the vulnerable will increase to Cg1.5 million in 2027.
Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina announced that NV GEBE has provided an additional Cg400,000 in direct relief for consumers. The announcement was made Wednesday as Mercelina launched the Restoring Utility Affordability (RUA) St. Maarten initiative, which he said is intended to reduce the burden of utility costs while strengthening the reliability and long-term sustainability of the energy sector.
Mercelina said the additional Cg400,000 brings the overall utility support for 2027 to Cg1.5 million, three times the level of support initiated in 2024. “This increase is not simply about numbers; it’s about providing meaningful assistance to the people who need it the most,” he said.
The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) and NV GEBE are negotiating how the additional support will be distributed. VSA will help identify eligible senior citizens and a broader group of vulnerable families who could benefit.
Mercelina said the process must be coordinated and transparent and ensure assistance reaches eligible households experiencing genuine difficulty with utility expenses.
He said government insisted that the assistance be expanded because senior citizens and other vulnerable families are struggling with the cost of living.
In response to a question later in the briefing, Mercelina said GEBE is providing the funding for the additional support and acknowledged the company's willingness to contribute
