Doran, Irion and York demand clear answers on wastewater plant, garbage contracts and district cleaning

GREAT BAY--Members of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran, Ardwell Irion and Darryl York raised concerns about the management of St. Maarten's wastewater treatment plant, garbage collection contracts, district cleaning and environmental enforcement during a parliamentary meeting with Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs on Tuesday, October 20.

The three parliamentarians questioned whether government has adequate arrangements in place to manage the country's waste problems and called for clearer policies, stronger enforcement and practical solutions to conditions affecting neighborhoods across the island.

The discussions centered on the recent wastewater overflow at the treatment plant on Illidge Road, the decision not to renew its previous management agreement, delays surrounding garbage collection and district cleaning contracts, and the need for legislation that allows authorities to hold businesses and individuals accountable for improper waste disposal.

Minister Gumbs informed Parliament that the previous wastewater treatment plant management agreement expired in August 2026 and was not renewed. He explained that the Ministry of VROMI has assumed daily operations while the terms of reference for a new management contract remain under legal review.

The minister also reported that the evaluation of bids for solid waste collection, which closed on September 25, is expected to be completed by the end of October, with contract awards anticipated afterward. Bids for district cleaning contracts were submitted on October 9 and are also being evaluated.

However, the three MPs raised questions about the arrangements currently in place and whether the decisions taken by the ministry have contributed to the problems being experienced.

Doran Questions Wastewater Management and Ending of Contracts

MP Doran, one of the parliamentarians who requested the meeting, said the deteriorating cleanliness of the island and recent images showing wastewater overflowing at the treatment plant warranted urgent parliamentary attention.

He questioned the minister's statement that the concerns prompting the meeting were not sufficiently clear, pointing out that videos of the wastewater situation had circulated publicly.

Doran recalled raising questions about the plant's management several months earlier and expressed concern that the previous agreement had been allowed to expire without a replacement contract already in place.

He questioned the ministry's ability to assume direct management of the facility when VROMI has repeatedly acknowledged staffing shortages and limitations in technical capacity.

"How can you end one contract without a clear, solid plan on how you're going to move forward?" Doran asked.

The MP said a previous change in management arrangements, undertaken around 2021 or 2022, had produced substantial cost savings for government. He requested a detailed comparison of the monthly and annual costs of operating the facility in 2020, 2022 and 2025.

Doran also sought clarification on the present condition of the plant, including outstanding repairs to pumps and piping, staffing levels, maintenance arrangements, backup generators and whether the facility is operating according to its intended treatment standards.

He specifically questioned reports suggesting that only two of the plant's three pumps were operational and raised concerns about the condition of the return activated sludge pump, which forms part of the wastewater treatment process.

Another major concern involved the regular testing of wastewater to ensure that treated water meets the required environmental and public health standards.

Doran requested testing records, information about the procurement of necessary chemicals and clarification on whether an independent technical assessment of the facility has been conducted.

He also asked the minister to confirm or deny information received suggesting that septic trucks had been directed to dispose of wastewater at the landfill because the treatment plant was reportedly closed.

If such instructions were given, Doran wanted to know who authorized them, whether the wastewater was treated before disposal and whether environmental and public health authorities were consulted.

The MP further questioned the reported restriction of access to the plant between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., warning that operators responding to emergencies outside those hours could face difficulties disposing of wastewater legally.

Beyond the wastewater plant, Doran challenged the government's handling of garbage collection and district cleaning contracts.

He questioned why the initial garbage collection tender had to be repeated and requested firm dates for the commencement of the new contracts to prevent another situation requiring extensions or temporary arrangements.

Doran also raised concerns about workers affected by the termination or expiration of contracts, claiming that more than 170 individuals had lost employment opportunities through decisions affecting waste management and district cleaning.

He stressed that his concern was not that existing contractors should automatically retain government work, but that the ministry should ensure continuity of services and consider the employment consequences of its decisions.

He also requested updates on landfill management, fire prevention, waste separation, environmental protection and the status of matters involving Fleming Waste Solutions.

Doran argued that government must take responsibility for ensuring that essential services continue, regardless of changes in contractors or management arrangements.

Irion Calls for Common-Sense Waste Policies and More Garbage Bins

MP Ardwell Irion focused much of his contribution on what he described as a disconnect between existing garbage collection rules and the realities of residential development in St. Maarten.

He questioned the treatment of apartment buildings under the current waste collection arrangements, particularly where residential properties containing more than three units are classified differently for collection purposes.

Irion argued that St. Maarten's housing patterns have changed considerably, with more residents living in apartment buildings because of limited land availability.

He questioned why residents of apartment buildings should potentially be excluded from regular household garbage collection when they generate ordinary residential waste.

The MP suggested that the government should establish a clearer policy defining residential and commercial properties for garbage collection purposes, rather than continuing to apply arrangements that may not adequately reflect how people live today.

Irion also raised concerns about the availability and distribution of garbage bins in neighborhoods where the number of households has increased.

He referred to an apartment building in Cole Bay containing 16 units but served by only two garbage bins, questioning how residents could reasonably be expected to maintain proper waste disposal practices under those circumstances.

Irion asked whether additional garbage bins have been provided for in the proposed 2027 budget and whether the ministry intends to conduct further assessments of areas requiring greater collection capacity.

He also questioned whether the current garbage collection tender could be adjusted to address residential apartment buildings more effectively.

The MP suggested that without changes, the country risks continuing to experience disputes between residents and garbage collectors over which properties are covered by government collection contracts.

Irion also criticized delays in obtaining responses to parliamentary questions, emphasizing that Members of Parliament need timely information, particularly when reviewing budgets and policies intended to address existing problems.

His overall position was that the government should focus on workable measures that reflect the country's present needs rather than continuing with arrangements that produce recurring complaints.

York Wants Stronger Enforcement Against Commercial Garbage and Sewage Pollution

MP Darryl York concentrated on the enforcement of existing waste management requirements, particularly the responsibilities of commercial establishments and the ability of environmental inspectors to impose penalties.

York noted that businesses are generally responsible for arranging and paying for their own garbage collection, yet commercial waste continues to contribute to the large piles of garbage seen in different areas of the island.

He questioned what action is currently being taken against businesses that fail to comply with their obligations and whether the existing legislation provides sufficient penalties.

York argued that identifying problems is no longer enough and that government must move toward implementing solutions.

He asked whether the ministry intends to introduce stronger legislative measures and indicated that Parliament's VROMI Committee could assist if changes to existing laws are required.

York also returned to the issue of garbage bin allocation, questioning whether the ministry has completed assessments of neighborhoods where population growth has increased demand for waste collection services.

He pointed out that areas originally equipped with a limited number of bins may now contain substantially more homes, making the existing collection capacity inadequate.

The MP requested an update on the findings of previous assessments and what practical changes government intends to implement.

A central concern for York was the effectiveness of environmental enforcement.

He referred to plans to train additional environmental inspectors but questioned whether those officers would have the legal authority to issue administrative fines directly.

York suggested that without such powers, violations could continue to be referred through procedures that contribute to an existing backlog of unpaid or unresolved fines.

He asked whether legislative amendments are being prepared to allow inspectors to impose administrative penalties and make enforcement more effective.

York also requested information on the current fines applicable to sewage flowing onto public roads and commercial businesses that allow garbage to accumulate.

He questioned whether the amounts remain appropriate and whether the government intends to update them to reflect present conditions.

For York, improving enforcement is essential to ensuring that environmental regulations have practical consequences for those who violate them.

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