Emmanuel: Public needs answers on GEBE, crime, SZV, marketplace, Mullet Bay, housing and more

GREAT BAY—Leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party, Christophe Emmanuel, said on Tuesday that urgency, transparency, and the will to act are missing from the Mercelina government. He pointed to GEBE, SZV, the Philipsburg marketplace, crime, Mullet Bay, housing, the Central Bank, and recent remarks by Prime Minister Luc Mercelina about the structure of government. Together, he said, these issues create a sense of inaction, stagnation, and disconnect from the public and the problems that affect daily life. He added that while it is good that dogs will receive relief with XCD 20,000 from government, he hopes people are next to benefit from the same generosity.

On GEBE, Emmanuel said the Prime Minister promised relief for households since July, then used a BTP report and internal friction with the board as distractions from delivering lower utility bills. He noted that the Prime Minister “boldly states” he would seek a legal route to remove the board after they refused to resign. Since then, Emmanuel said, the Prime Minister has gone silent. The public does not know if the board is staying or going. More importantly, they are still paying half their monthly earnings or more to GEBE.

On SZV, Emmanuel said Minister Brug instructed that recruitment for a new Director be restarted, claiming the process was flawed. The Supervisory Council contradicted the minister and defended its process. “To date the Minister has not explained what exactly went wrong that prompted his call for a do-over. He is saying they did it wrong, they are saying they did it right. So what happened?” Emmanuel asked. He said the lack of clarity invites scrutiny and creates the impression a process is being tailored for someone to benefit.

On the Philipsburg marketplace, Emmanuel said the Minister of TEATT has announced more than once that construction has started, yet there is no visible progress beyond an excavator moving dirt. He asked for a clear update, and said there are reports that funds already paid to the contractor have been exhausted while construction has not begun, and that new invoices are reportedly being sent. He called on the minister to provide a full financial picture and confirm or dispel these reports.

On crime, Emmanuel asked the Minister of Justice to publish the figures if the claim is that crime has not increased. He requested a comparison using the same periods for 2023 and 2024, plus the current year, and an explanation of current prevention levels and planned actions. He warned that if robberies are not brought under control, homes could be targeted next.

On Mullet Bay, Emmanuel asked how the sale is progressing and whether St. Maarten is being consulted. He asked if the country holds a right of first refusal and, if so, to produce the agreement that outlines those rights. He said there has been a lot of talk, including claims St. Maarten will be left out, and asked why the public cannot be informed.

On housing, Emmanuel said the Minister of VROMI announced 18 million guilders to purchase property in Belvedere. He asked where in Belvedere, what the housing plans are, when the public will be consulted, whether this is the only project, whether the purchase has closed, and where the overall housing plan is that the minister keeps talking about.

On the Central Bank, Emmanuel asked what comes next now that the identified nominee has withdrawn. He said the issue has gone quiet. He asked whether government is meeting with the board of the Central Bank, whether board members will receive their decrees, whether the process will restart, how developments in Curaçao affect the process, and what the plan is for the board. He said there is no transparency after a public debate that lasted almost a month.

On the Prime Minister’s recent statements at the Governor’s Symposium, Emmanuel said the remarks were serious and require follow-through. If the Prime Minister believes entities such as the Integrity Chamber are not suited to the country’s size, Emmanuel said he expects concrete steps in the budget. He reminded the public that he was the first to call the Integrity Chamber and similar bodies a waste of money for a country of this size, and that he was labeled fearmongering at the time. He said the Prime Minister has now echoed those exact concerns, so government must state what it will do next.

Emmanuel also asked when the 2025 budget amendment will reach Parliament and when the 2026 budget will be debated. He urged the government to focus on improving people’s lives. He said the new year is approaching with no light at the end of a dark tunnel, and that the government is taking people’s patience for granted. He called on the government to act.

He also encouraged the opposition parties to "snap out of it" and stop letting deafening silence prevail. "A good government is a reflection of a good opposition. A bad government,....finish the sentence," Emmanuel concluded.

‍