NOW Leader Emmanuel: In GEBE affair, govt must now put the people first

GREAT BAY--Leader of the Nation Opportunity Wealth (NOW) party, Christopher Emmanuel, has responded to recent developments at NV GEBE by stating that the government’s decision to request the resignation of the utility’s Supervisory Board was both necessary and long overdue. "Now, you have to move with resolve for your citizens," he said.

In a statement issued this weekend, Emmanuel said Prime Minister Luc Mercelina “finally did what should have been done a long time ago.” He reiterated his long-standing position that the current board of GEBE had failed in its oversight responsibilities. As a result, GEBE became the punchline of jokes, trust evaporated and was the cause of the heaviest burden the population bears. “With their track record, they are fortunate to have lasted this long,” he said, calling on the board to “tender their resignations forthwith.”

Emmanuel, who previously served as a Member of Parliament, noted that he had advised Prime Minister Mercelina from early on to remove the Supervisory Board, citing what he saw as an inability to carry out its duties in the best interest of the public. “I told the Prime Minister then that the board was as bad as the government that appointed it. That they would not follow the vision of this government, and that they would be obstructionist. That they would not cooperate with relief efforts and would answer to political masters no longer in office. That is exactly what happened.”

The NOW leader pointed to the ongoing consequences of the 2022 cyberattack as a defining failure of the board. “I won't even mention the rest, but that incident alone should have triggered the board’s resignation,” he said. “Instead, what we’ve seen is over three years of hardship for ordinary people, incorrect bills, disconnections, constant anxiety and financial stress.

"GEBE has become a daily source of frustration for the entire population, especially our elderly and low-income earners. Our people don't even carry such burdens after a hurricane. We pick ourselves up, clean-up and we move on. GEBE has been a constant national embarrassment and a crippling burden on our people for three years," he stressed.

Emmanuel emphasized that this is the government’s opportunity to restore public trust and give the people of St. Maarten real hope that GEBE can be fixed. "The company should never have become this dysfunctional," he said.

He added that the focus must now shift to ensuring that competent, local and transparent leadership is installed, with clear mandates. “The government now carries the full responsibility to move with urgency and clarity,” Emmanuel stated. This is one of the most important issue before the country right now. GEBE affects every household and every business, every day. People are tired. They are worried about how to pay bills they don’t understand or trust. The stress it causes is real and has gone on too long. The public is looking to its government not only to act, but to lead," Emmanuel concluded.

‍