Minister Brug: Taking care of Team VSA so they can take care of you
GREAT BAY--The Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor is supposed to be the place that looks after everyone else. Yet as Minister Richinel Brug has been quick to acknowledge, it can only do that if the people inside the Ministry are themselves supported, equipped and healthy. Over his first year in office under the Governing Program 2024–2028, Brug has quietly focused much of his energy on the people behind the policies, building a case that caring for VSA staff is the first step in caring for the public they serve.
He is candid about what he found when he took office: a committed workforce under heavy strain. “I understand that our employees have been working under demanding circumstances and that things are not yet perfect. Staff fatigue is real, and I see it every day,” he said in his year one review, before promising to keep working to improve conditions and close gaps inside the Ministry. That acknowledgment sets the tone for a portfolio that is as much about internal repair as it is about external reform.
One of his earliest moves was to bring stability at the top. The appointment of a permanent Secretary-General ended a period of uncertainty that had left staff unsure who would be at the helm from one government to the next. Brug has been clear about why that matters. A Ministry cannot plan strategically or implement consistently if leadership feels temporary. With an SG in place, VSA gained not only administrative continuity, but also a clearer chain of command and more confidence among staff that long-term projects would be seen through.
From there, the Minister began tackling issues that directly touch the lives of employees. In his first week, he insisted that the Ministry fully honor paternity leave provisions already anchored in local labor law, even though internal government policy had not yet been updated. It was a small but symbolic move, signaling that workers’ rights would not be postponed by slow paperwork. For a Ministry that is supposed to champion social protection, applying its own rules to its own people was a necessary test of credibility.
Safety and preparedness have also been brought into sharper focus. All VSA staff received Disaster “To-Go” Bags containing essential supplies for hurricane season and other emergencies. The idea is simple: workers who know their families are better prepared in a crisis are more likely to be available, calm and effective when the country needs them most. It is a recognition that government employees are not just civil servants but parents, sons, daughters and caregivers themselves.
Perhaps the clearest sign of Brug’s people-first approach is the attention paid to mental health. Over the past year, the Ministry has organized mental health awareness sessions for management, cabinet staff and departments that wanted to participate. A VSA Sports Day brought colleagues together outside the office, inviting them to move, laugh and breathe in a different setting. Funds were set aside for immediate psychological assistance for staff, particularly those on the front lines who make hard decisions and witness distressing situations on a daily basis.
That focus on emotional wellbeing is being embedded in the physical workspace too. The Ministry has created a Recovery Room for employees, a dedicated place where staff can rest, use a massage chair, stretch or practice yoga and relaxation exercises during the workday. The room is expected to be fully operational in December 2025 and is meant to be more than a symbolic gesture. It is a concrete acknowledgment that stress is real, that the nervous system needs a break and that a healthier workforce is not a luxury but a prerequisite for quality service.
Professional development has moved alongside wellness. Under the leadership of Brug and Secretary-General Arnell, VSA launched a Legislative Writing and Policy Development Training Program to build internal expertise instead of depending heavily on external consultants. Five Inspectorate staff members completed BavPol training and are now awaiting their oath ceremony, a step that will strengthen enforcement capacity across VSA portfolios. Funds have been earmarked for staff to pursue further studies in fields connected to VSA’s work or in public management, and laptops have been procured for all employees so they can work more efficiently in and out of the office.
The Ministry has also made a point of pausing to say “thank you.” Two staff appreciation and reflection events were held in 2025. The first, in March, honored the special role VSA civil servants played, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The second, more recent event recognized current staff, long-serving employees and retirees. These gatherings served not only as social occasions but as moments to acknowledge collective effort, to look back at what has been achieved in a short period and to reinforce a sense of shared mission.
Behind the scenes, crucial structural work has been done to make sure staff are not left trying to implement policy without the right legal and institutional backbone. With support from TWO and the Department of Public Health, funding was secured for a project to strengthen the VSA Inspectorate, improving its operational capacity and oversight functions. A comprehensive State of Affairs document was compiled to map the Ministry’s current situation and guide priorities for the next five years, giving staff a clearer picture of where their work fits into a larger plan.
Perhaps one of the most critical internal fixes came in the legal arena. When the Ministry’s only legal expert departed earlier this year, VSA suddenly faced a serious gap in legislative and policy support. Brug responded by adding a legal civil servant and arranging long-term legislative support for the Ministry. He has called this one of the most important achievements of his first year, pointing out that without legal and legislative expertise, good policy ideas cannot move from paper to law. By stabilizing this area, VSA is better positioned to move forward with reforms that directly affect health care, social protection and labor standards.
The Ministry is also looking ahead to how technology can ease pressure on staff and improve service. An agreement is being finalized for Artificial Intelligence training for VSA employees in the first quarter of 2026. The goal is not to replace staff but to help them manage heavy workloads in an understaffed environment, sharpen digital and analytical skills and use smarter tools to serve the public. Brug has set an ambitious objective: he wants VSA to become the leading Ministry for AI in government, exploring AI-powered tools that make it easier for citizens to access services and information. It is a strategy aimed at reducing friction for both staff and the public.
The Minister is open about the challenges that remain: staff shortages, heavy workloads, people “stuck in their scale,” and limitations in benefits and resources. Looking toward the next phase of the Governing Program, he has pledged to keep focusing on staff morale, better workforce planning, finalizing function books, promoting a healthier work-life balance and implementing legislation that regulates special benefits for ambulance personnel. He has repeatedly stressed that VSA employees are the foundation of the Ministry and that their resilience and professionalism are what make public service possible.
Brug is also quick to credit his leadership team. He has publicly thanked Secretary-General Arnell for her creativity and tireless work in turning policy into concrete initiatives, particularly around innovation and staff support. He has described himself as proud of the strategic course VSA is taking for 2026 under her guidance.
Seen together, these efforts sketch a clear philosophy. Before the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor can deliver better care, stronger safety nets and fairer labor rules to the people of St. Maarten, it has to look inward. It has to shore up its own systems, protect its own workers and give them the tools, training and breathing room they need. In other words, Brug is betting that if VSA takes care of its people, those people will be in a much better position to take care of everyone else.