Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs
PHILIPSBURG--Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs acknowledged after the 2026 budget was adopted on Thursday night that government still has areas that need improvement, saying the late budget must be owned and that government now has to focus on execution and delivery.
Gumbs made the statement after Parliament adopted the 2026 budget, reflecting on the budget process and what she described as the work that must now follow.
She acknowledged that the budget was handled late and said this should not be used as an excuse. “The budget was late. That is a fact, and we must own it.”
Gumbs said that despite the late handling of the budget, government continued to meet its monthly obligations, including salaries and other recurring obligations, and continued to function.
She said she hopes the 2026 budget will be the last late budget presented to Parliament.
Gumbs also said work on the 2027 budget is already underway. Government has received advice from the Council of Advice and is moving into the next stage of the process toward Parliament.
The minister said the government cannot change what happened with the 2026 budget but can learn from the experience and improve going forward.
Gumbs particularly reflected on a question posed by United People’s party (UP) Member of Parliament (MP) Francisco Lacroes to all ministers during the budget deliberations: whether they are where they need to be, whether they are doing enough and where they need to improve.
She said the question required self-reflection and that acknowledging shortcomings does not erase progress or the work done by civil servants.
According to Gumbs, government, Parliament and the institutions serving the country need to work more closely together instead of operating in silos.
She called for a focus on three areas: communication, collaboration and coordination. Gumbs said better communication is needed so government has a shared understanding of what is happening, what needs to be done and where responsibility lies.
She said collaboration is necessary because the country’s challenges do not fall neatly within the responsibility of one ministry, while coordination is needed to ensure policies, resources and efforts produce results. “When you know better, you do better.”
Gumbs said every ministry and minister has its own responsibilities, but issues involving several ministries, departments or institutions should not become about territory, personalities or who receives credit. “It has to be about getting the job done.”
She also stressed that the adoption of the budget itself should not be considered the achievement. Instead, government must now execute the budget and ensure that the plans and figures translate into tangible results for residents. “Now we have to execute. Now we have to deliver.”
Gumbs said the budget debate may be over, but the responsibility created by the adopted budget continues. She also called on the people of Sint Maarten to continue holding government accountable and expecting better. “The Budget 2026 has been adopted. Now the responsibility is ours to deliver.”
