MPs request urgent parliamentary meeting on Fire and Ambulance personnel issues

GREAT BAY--Six Members of Parliament have jointly requested an urgent public meeting of Parliament to address the escalating situation involving the country’s fire and ambulance personnel.

In a formal letter submitted to Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams, the MPs, Omar Ottley, Francisco Lacroes, Lyndon Lewis, Egbert Doran, Ardwell Irion, and Darryl York—called for immediate debate and government accountability regarding what they describe as a deepening crisis within the emergency services.

The MPs emphasized that what began as a show of solidarity among emergency workers has evolved into a broader appeal for fairness, recognition, and justice across the sector. The ongoing action by fire and ambulance staff, which started on April 14, 2025, has now entered its seventh month and represents, in the MPs’ words, “a symptom of deeper systemic neglect that threatens the very stability and safety of our country.”

“The time for dialogue and decisive action is now,” the MPs wrote, warning that continued uncertainty in the emergency services poses risks to public safety, national order, and the continuity of critical emergency response.

The MPs are calling for the Prime Minister, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), and the Minister of Justice to appear before Parliament to present a clear and time-specific plan of action. The requested public meeting seeks answers and commitments on the following:

• Correct and just placement of all fire and ambulance personnel within the official Function Book

• Recognition and enforcement of established career paths within both departments

• Application of retroactive measures where due and warranted

• A binding, written commitment from government ensuring timely execution of these measures

“As St. Maarten enters its peak tourism season, the unrest and uncertainty among first responders directly affect public confidence, economic stability, and the nation’s reputation,” the MPs stated. “Parliament must rise to its constitutional duty to safeguard the people and hold the Executive accountable before this matter deepens into a crisis.”

The MPs underscored that restoring trust between government and the country’s emergency responders is essential to national security and public welfare, urging Parliament to treat the issue with the urgency it demands.

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