Fire Department Personnel Respond to Prime Minister’s Statement / Mediation Respected, Timelines Must Be Honored

The Fire Department personnel of Sint Maarten wish to respond to the Prime Minister’s public message delivered yesterday regarding the ongoing situation within the Fire and Ambulance Department.

As stated by the Prime Minister, the matter remains in mediation, and we acknowledge and respect that process. However, respect for mediation also requires that timelines be honored, as mediation is not an open-ended process.

Since January 23, 2026, a written agreement has been before the Minister, and Fire Department personnel have been awaiting a formal response. To date, no written response or clear progress has been communicated.

It was only after Fire Department personnel issued a 48-hour notice on Monday, February 2, 2026, that urgency was again raised. That notice did not result in the expected response or clarity.

As a result, and while continuing to act in good faith, Fire Department personnel have formally granted the mediator 24 hours to respond, recognizing that the mediator serves as the official communication channel between Fire Department members, the union, and the government.

It is also important to clarify the public record. The union did not initiate the meeting with the Council of Ministers. That meeting was requested by Fire Department personnel themselves, with the union acting strictly as the required formal conduit.

While it has been stated that the union is “behind all of this,” we emphasize that the union is only as strong as its members. Fire Department personnel are qualified, experienced, and educated professionals, fully capable of making informed decisions regarding our careers, rights, and future.

Fire Department personnel further wish to state for the record that the mediator has conducted this process with transparency, consistently ensuring that Fire Department members are included in discussions, and that information is shared openly, except where confidentiality is required to protect the mediation process.

Our position remains lawful, measured, and solution-oriented. We continue to respect mediation and institutional processes, while also expecting accountability, written clarity, and respect for agreed timelines.

Issued by:

The Fire Department Negotiation Team

Via the W.I.S.C.U–PSU Union, in support and representation of Fire Department personnel

‍