GREAT BAY--With the Ministry of VROMI now directly managing the country's wastewater treatment plant following the expiration of its previous management contract, Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg on Tuesday asked for clarity on whether the government employees assigned to operate the facility are properly trained, qualified and adequately compensated for their responsibilities.
Meanwhile, fellow MP Veronica Jansen-Webster is challenging garbage collection rules that could leave residents of apartment buildings with more than three units responsible for arranging and paying for their own waste removal, questioning the fairness of treating ordinary residential garbage as commercial waste.
Both parliamentarians raised their concerns during Tuesday's parliamentary meeting with Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs, as Parliament examined the management of wastewater facilities, garbage collection contracts, district cleaning and environmental enforcement. Their questions placed particular attention on the impact of government decisions on public services, employees and residents, and whether existing policies adequately reflect the needs of St. Maarten.
Roseburg Questions Qualifications and Working Conditions of Wastewater Plant Employees
MP Sjamira Roseburg requested detailed information about the government employees currently responsible for operating the wastewater treatment plant following the expiration of its previous management agreement.
Minister Gumbs had informed Parliament that the agreement ended in August 2026 and was not renewed, with VROMI assuming responsibility for daily operations while preparations for a new management contract continue.
Roseburg questioned how many ministry employees have been assigned to the facility, which departments they were transferred from and whether their assignments are temporary or permanent.
She also sought clarification on whether moving employees to the treatment plant has affected the operations of their original departments, including whether other government services have been delayed or reduced as a result.
The MP asked the minister to provide information about the employees' working schedules and whether the plant is staffed around the clock, including weekends and public holidays.
If the facility is not staffed continuously, she questioned who is responsible for monitoring its operations outside regular working hours.
Another concern involved the qualifications of the employees assigned to the plant.
Roseburg asked whether the workers are properly trained and certified to operate a wastewater treatment facility and requested details about the training they have received.
She also questioned whether employees performing these duties receive additional compensation, including overtime payments, shift allowances, hazard allowances or other benefits associated with their responsibilities.
Her questions focused on establishing whether VROMI has the personnel, qualifications and operational arrangements necessary to manage the facility while a new contractual arrangement is being prepared.
Roseburg Calls for Update on Illegal Dumping Motion and Public Reporting Hotline
Roseburg also requested an update on a motion she introduced jointly with MP Sarah Wescot-Williams during the 2026 budget deliberations concerning illegal dumping and the imposition of fines.
She reminded the minister that the motion had been approved by Parliament and included several measures similar to those being discussed during Tuesday's meeting.
Among the proposals was establishing a dedicated hotline through which members of the public could report illegal dumping and other waste-related violations.
Although Roseburg acknowledged that a government contact number already exists, she questioned whether a more specific reporting system could be developed to make it easier for residents to submit complaints and information.
She also referred to the possibility of compensating individuals who provide information about illegal dumping, an idea included in the earlier discussions surrounding enforcement.
The MP requested clarification on what progress has been made toward implementing the motion and whether government intends to advance the proposed reporting and enforcement measures.
Roseburg Offers Parliamentary Assistance to Update Environmental Laws
Beyond requesting information about specific initiatives, Roseburg emphasized that Members of Parliament have a responsibility to assist in improving legislation where existing laws are no longer adequate.
She acknowledged that some of the country's environmental and waste management legislation is outdated and questioned what assistance the minister requires from Parliament to address those deficiencies.
Roseburg requested that VROMI identify the legislative amendments or new laws necessary to strengthen waste management and enforcement, allowing Members of Parliament to determine where they can contribute.
She noted that she had previously raised the same request during budget discussions and reiterated her willingness to assist with legislative work.
The MP also referred to waste collection financing arrangements in Curaçao, citing information shared with her about a system under which working residents reportedly pay a monthly collection charge while pensioners receive an exemption.
However, Roseburg clarified that she was not proposing an additional charge on existing household bills. Instead, she wanted to know whether the government had examined comparable arrangements in other Caribbean countries and what conclusions, if any, had been reached.
Jansen-Webster Challenges Garbage Collection Rules for Apartment Buildings
MP Veronica Jansen-Webster questioned the treatment of residential apartment buildings under St. Maarten's garbage collection arrangements, particularly provisions affecting properties containing more than three units.
She asked the minister to clarify whether the applicable threshold refers to three apartments, three separate dwellings or three garbage bins, and how that determination affects whether a property qualifies for regular household garbage collection.
Jansen-Webster argued that apartment buildings should not automatically be treated as commercial properties simply because several families live at the same address.
She pointed out that residents of apartment buildings generally produce ordinary household garbage rather than commercial waste, raising questions about why they should be required to arrange and pay for private collection.
The MP also highlighted St. Maarten's changing housing patterns, noting that limited land availability has resulted in more people living in apartment buildings rather than individual houses on separate parcels of land.
She questioned whether the country's garbage collection policies have kept pace with those developments.
Jansen-Webster also referred to the tax treatment of residential rentals, arguing that the classification of a property for garbage collection purposes should take into account its actual residential use.
She questioned the fairness of requiring residents to pay for their own garbage collection while they already contribute to government revenue through taxation.
The MP further asked whether excluding certain apartment buildings from regular collection services could contribute to increased illegal dumping, particularly where residents are unable or unwilling to pay for private waste removal.
Jansen-Webster Seeks Start Date for District Cleaning Contracts
Jansen-Webster also requested a realistic timeframe for the commencement of new district cleaning contracts.
Minister Gumbs had informed Parliament that bids submitted on October 9 were undergoing evaluation.
However, Jansen-Webster questioned whether residents could expect the new arrangements to begin before the end of 2026 or whether the process would extend into the following year.
She emphasized the importance of providing clear information to the public about when regular district cleaning services will be restored or expanded.
Questions Raised About Environmental Inspections and Fines
Another concern raised by Jansen-Webster was the operation of VROMI's inspection department and its response to wastewater flowing onto public roads.
She questioned whether environmental inspectors regularly patrol neighborhoods to identify violations or whether inspections primarily take place after complaints are submitted by residents.
The MP requested that the ministry provide the public with the relevant telephone numbers or email addresses for reporting sewage runoff, garbage accumulation and other environmental concerns.
She also asked whether inspectors currently have the authority to issue fines for wastewater violations and whether the necessary regulations have been implemented.
Jansen-Webster emphasized that residents should know where to report problems and what action they can expect once a complaint has been submitted.
She similarly requested that the ministry make contact information available for residents whose household garbage is not collected or who encounter waste accumulating in their neighborhoods.
Jansen-Webster Questions Garbage Falling From Uncovered Trucks
Jansen-Webster also raised concerns about garbage trucks traveling without properly secured or covered loads, suggesting that this contributes to litter accumulating along public roads.
She referred to the cleanup of Bell Lookout Point by taxi drivers, thanking them for taking the initiative to remove garbage from the area ahead of the busy tourism season.
While welcoming the volunteers' efforts, the MP questioned why residents and community groups are repeatedly required to undertake cleanup activities that should form part of regular waste management and enforcement.
She suggested that garbage falling from uncovered collection trucks is contributing to the problem, particularly along routes where trucks transport waste.
Jansen-Webster questioned what VROMI is doing to ensure that trucks are properly covered and whether the ministry is cooperating with the Ministry of Justice to enforce the relevant requirements.
She also identified areas along Link One Phase Two, including the vicinity of the ambulance department and a nearby school, where she said garbage continues to accumulate.
The MP called for stronger monitoring of waste transportation practices and action to prevent garbage from being scattered along public roads.
