Wescot-Williams: Short-term GEBE fixes are not enough

GREAT BAY--Three months after her first warning to government, Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams says the country can no longer rely on short-term fixes for GEBE and must instead move immediately toward structural consumer protection, proper tariff regulation, and long-term energy affordability. She stresses that temporary payments or relief programs are not enough and that what has to happen now is a shift to sustainable measures that restore clarity, stability, and trust for every household.

In a follow-up letter to Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina, Wescot-Williams reminds government that her August 17 correspondence called for urgent action on the electricity and billing crisis by merging GEBE’s internal findings with the government-commissioned relief report. She notes that recommendations such as a means-tested social tariff, a temporary concession fee waiver, and legislation to establish an independent electricity and water regulator remain essential pillars of a long-term solution.

“Nearly three months later,” she writes, “we have seen some developments, including Minister Brug’s announcement of a social relief initiative and GEBE’s senior relief plan. These steps are commendable, but they remain short-term fixes. The average consumer is still struggling with high bills, billing confusion, and no clear sense of when true stability will return.”

The MP argues that what is required now is a balanced, sustainable approach that pairs immediate support with deeper reforms in governance, accountability, and tariff oversight. She emphasizes that only transparent cost calculations, clear consumer protections, and a regulated tariff structure will create lasting relief.

Wescot-Williams underscores that GEBE is a national utility whose stability depends on restoring public confidence and adhering to sound corporate governance. “The focus must return to the real issue, affordable and reliable electricity for every household,” she says, urging the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers to move beyond ad hoc relief and toward a coherent plan for long-term energy security and consumer protection.

She concludes by reaffirming her support for efforts that genuinely ease the burden on residents but calls for faster implementation and reforms that ensure fair, transparent, and affordable utility services for the people of St. Maarten.

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