ACP-SXM calls for 5,000 people to shut down Philipsburg, join peaceful march to GEBE

GREAT BAY--Peggy-Ann Richardson, President of the Association for Consumer Protection St. Maarten (ACP-SXM) is calling on at least 5,000 people to take part in a peaceful march on Monday, June 15, beginning at 1:00 pm from the Government Administration Building to NV GEBE.

Richardson said the march is intended to send a clear message on behalf of consumers who continue to raise concerns about disputed bills, payment arrangements, disconnection procedures and the wider handling of customer issues by the utility company.

“I am saying 5,000 people, and that is not a lot,” Richardson said. “NV GEBE’s client base is 20,000 plus. Philipsburg needs to shut down. The road needs to close down.”

She encouraged residents, workers, businesses, unions and all affected consumers to participate peacefully and visibly. Richardson said persons driving to the area should park along the Ring Road or nearby areas and walk or carpool to the Government Administration Building. Persons who are unable to walk the route, she said, may meet the marchers at NV GEBE.

“If you can’t walk, stay by NV GEBE and meet us there,” Richardson said. “If you are working in town, come up the road and meet us by NV GEBE.”

Richardson said the march is open to everyone, whether born on St. Maarten or now living here. She urged participants not to be discouraged by fear, intimidation or pressure.

“Many of you have reached out. Some are being intimidated. I am being intimidated, or they are attempting to intimidate me,” she said. “I have said already, I am the wrong person to try that with, because the more you try to intimidate me, the stronger my fight gets.”

Richardson also questioned why labor unions have not publicly mobilized their members ahead of Monday’s peaceful march, saying many workers are affected by the same NV GEBE billing concerns that ACP-SXM has been raising.

Richardson said the absence of a visible response from unions “says a lot,” especially because their members are among the consumers dealing with disputed bills, payment pressure and uncertainty over NV GEBE’s policies.

“Labor unions should ignite their base,” Richardson said. “Your members are suffering under the forceful hand of NV GEBE with those faulty bills.”

She urged unions to recognize the march as a consumer issue and a workers’ issue, saying the cost and handling of utility bills affect households across the country, including the very members unions represent.

Richardson said the protest will remain peaceful, but firm. She said ACP-SXM will continue to challenge practices it believes violate consumer rights and will continue to demand transparency from NV GEBE and the authorities.

“This is a peaceful march,” she said. “If there is ever a reason to march in this lifetime, this is it.”

She also referred to statements made by Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina on the floor of Parliament on Friday, June 12, saying those remarks confirmed concerns that consumers and others have raised about NV GEBE.

Richardson said consumers remain in “darkness” over several unresolved matters, including the 2022 cyberattack, the manual restoration of bills, disputed balances, payment plans and the absence of a clear disconnection policy.

She questioned whether certain payment arrangements are properly executed, saying consumers should check whether their payment plans contain the required signatures.

“Go check your payment plan and see if NV GEBE signed it with you,” Richardson said. “You should ask yourself the question if that payment plan is legally binding with one signature.”

ACP-SXM is urging participants to wear white if possible, but Richardson emphasized that no one should stay away because they do not have a white shirt.

“If you don’t have a white shirt, come as you are,” she said.

Richardson called on businesses to close during the time of the march and urged labor unions to mobilize their members, saying many workers are also affected by NV GEBE bills and related consumer concerns.

“Every business should close tomorrow for that period of time,” she said. “Labor unions should ignite their base. Your members are suffering under the forceful hand of NV GEBE with those faulty bills.”

ACP-SXM said the June 15 march is part of its broader effort to defend consumer rights, demand accountability and ensure that the public is not left out of decisions that affect households and businesses across St. Maarten.

The peaceful march begins Monday, June 15, at 1:00 pm at the Government Administration Building and will proceed to NV GEBE.

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