Pond Island – Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication
(TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Maarten, today extended warm congratulations to Ms. Iris
Arrindell on her appointment as Temporary Manager of NV GEBE, describing the
appointment as “an important step toward restoring stability, transparency and public
confidence in GEBE.”
“I wish Ms. Arrindell strength and success as she takes on this critical responsibility,” the
Minister stated. “Her appointment is a breath of fresh air and comes at a pivotal
moment, and I look forward to constructive cooperation as we work to bring clarity,
accountability and relief to the people of St. Maarten.”
Minister Heyliger-Marten also reiterated her earlier public position regarding the recent
increase in fuel clause, which she previously condemned as unjustified and
unsupported by transparent data.
“My position has not changed,” she emphasized. “Any adjustment to the fuel clause
must be based on verified information and lawful procedures. That is why I initiated the
Supervisor Mechanism under the Electricity Concession Ordinance to ensure that, for
the first time, Government receives full transparency into GEBE’s calculations.”
The Minister confirmed that BTP, in its role as Supervisor, has already held meetings
with GEBE and that the company is now providing information that has never been
submitted in full compliance with the Concession.
“For the first time in our history, Government will be receiving the data needed to
independently verify the fuel clause,’ she said. “This is the direct result of the formal
oversight actions we have taken using the legal tools available to Government.”
When asked about the recent departure of former Temporary Manager Thomas
Roggendorf, the Minister responded: “My focus has always been on compliance with
the law and protection of the people. The Supervisor mechanism sent a clear message
that the days of operating without full transparency are over. The country deserves
accountability, and I will continue to use every legal instrument available to ensure it; it
came as no surprise that he resigned.”
The Minister also addressed the growing public interest in GEBE’s operations, including
the recent activities of the Association for Consumer Protection. “Public engagement is
healthy for our democracy,” she noted. “I welcome every voice that advocates for
fairness and transparency in a respectable manner. At the same time, it is Government
that carries the legal responsibility to act, and we are acting.” Earlier this year, after the
new Supervisory Board was installed, Minister Heyliger-Marten started the process of
concession compliance.
Grisha Congratulates Newly Appointed Temporary Manager of GEBE, Ms. Iris Arrindell,
and Reaffirms her Demand for Transparency, Compliance and Lower Electricity Costs
The Minister noted that historically, fuel clause levels were similar in 2022, yet no
structural reforms were undertaken at that time. “The public deserves more than
temporary relief,” she said. “They deserve a system that is transparent, predictable and
fair. That is why this Government is taking a fundamentally different approach, one that
addresses the root causes, not just the symptoms.”
She reaffirmed that renewable energy is a sustainable path to long term affordability.
“We cannot continue relying only on fossil fuels,” she stated. “Renewable energy is not
optional, it is essential for our economic future and for lowering the cost of living.”
She added that Government will evaluate the future of GEBE’s concession. “If the
concession must be rewritten to guarantee that St. Maarten finally realizes energy
transition, then that is the direction we will take,” the Minister declared. “The people of
St. Maarten deserve nothing less.”
The Minister noted that the existing concession already contains clear, legally binding
obligations on renewable energy that were never enforced. Article 14 of the concession
explicitly requires GEBE to “strive toward a yearly increase in the use of sustainable
energy” and to ensure that at least 2% of all electricity delivered to consumers by 2015
would come from renewable sources. It also requires GEBE to incorporate renewable
energy development into its mandatory five-year rolling multi-year plans.
“These obligations have been in the concession since 2010,” the Minister emphasized.
“Yet no government ever held GEBE accountable to them. No multi-year plans as
outlined in the concession were approved, no renewable energy targets were enforced,
and no structural oversight was applied. That is how we ended up where we are today,
with no transparency and a fuel clause that keeps our people vulnerable to global oil
prices.”
She continued: “That era is over. As Minister, I will not allow these obligations to be
ignored any longer. The concession makes renewable energy a legal duty, not an
optional aspiration, and GEBE is required to meet it. If GEBE cannot fulfill these
obligations, then the concession will be rewritten, because one way or another, St.
Maarten must realize our energy transition.”
In closing, the Minister stated “To the people of St. Maarten, I hear you, I stand with you,
and I am using every legal tool available to protect our interests. This is the beginning of
a new chapter for GEBE, one built on transparency, compliance and a clear path toward
renewable energy and lower electricity costs.”