Community urged to help shape Wastewater Project, public consultation Wednesday night

CAY HILL--"It also gives the community an opportunity to understand the project, ask questions, and propose improvements before designs are finalized." That is the key message from government and the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) as they invite the public to a consultation on the St. Maarten Wastewater Management Project (SWMP).

The open meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Belair Community Center. Residents, businesses and community groups, especially from the Dutch Cul de Sac area, are being urged to attend and have a direct say in how the project is carried out.

The SWMP is a 25 million US dollar investment to tackle one of St. Maarten’s biggest environmental problems. Only about ten percent of households are currently connected to the public sewer network. The project will expand the sewer system in Dutch Cul de Sac and upgrade the wastewater treatment plant on A. Th. Illidge Road so it can handle more household connections and operate more efficiently. The goal is to reduce the island’s reliance on aging septic tanks and cut the risk of wastewater ending up in yards, streets and ponds.

During the consultation, technical experts will walk the public through the project’s Environmental and Social Risk Management Instruments. These documents explain how construction and long term operations may affect homes, roads, traffic and the environment, and what measures will be taken to limit noise, dust, traffic delays, water pollution and other impacts.

The session will also outline the project timeline, the areas where work will take place and the likely impact on traffic and nearby neighborhoods. A question and answer segment will give residents a chance to speak directly with representatives of the Government of St. Maarten and the NRPB.

Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs is calling on the public to use this chance to influence what happens next, noting that wastewater management affects daily life, neighborhood health and the environment across the island.

The consultation is the first in a series of engagement activities. Additional sessions will be organized for schools, community organizations and directly affected households, and a livestream will be available for those who cannot attend in person. Feedback from all meetings will be used to refine the final design before major works begin.

The SWMP is implemented by the NRPB on behalf of the Government of St. Maarten. It is funded by the St. Maarten Trust Fund, financed by the Government of the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank, together with a financial contribution from the Government of St. Maarten.

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