Minister Gumbs: “I am hopeful about where we can go, but I am not complacent about where we are”

GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs acknowledged that while progress is being made within government, she remains concerned about the structural challenges facing Sint Maarten and believes the country must be willing to confront difficult issues in order to move forward.

Responding to questions during the 2026 Budget Debate on whether she was satisfied with the direction the country is heading, Gumbs said that while she is encouraged by progress within her own ministry, she does not believe the country can ignore the challenges that remain. “Mr. Chairman, like many who call this island home, I haven’t been happy with the direction it’s been going for the last 25 years,” Gumbs said.

“Within my own Ministry, I am satisfied with the progress we have made,” Gumbs stated. She explained that many of the issues she previously raised with her predecessor have now moved forward through evidence-based and consistent decision-making. However, she added that improvement remains necessary, particularly given existing resource constraints.

The Minister stressed that government activity alone cannot be the measure of success. According to Gumbs, the real test is whether policies and decisions result in improved outcomes for residents.

“For me, however, progress cannot simply mean that the government is busy or that processes are moving. The measure must be whether that work produces better and more reliable results for the people we serve,” she said.

Addressing the broader direction of the country, Gumbs said she has not been satisfied with the path Sint Maarten has taken over the past decades, describing her concerns as an honest assessment rather than a lack of confidence in the country’s future.

She argued that greater awareness of how other countries and territories operate has highlighted areas where Sint Maarten remains behind in terms of structural development.

“That is not a statement of hopelessness; it is an honest assessment of where we are,” Gumbs said. She emphasized that the country has significant potential, but that potential must be supported by stronger institutions, functioning systems and consistent execution.

The Minister said she remains optimistic about Sint Maarten’s future but warned against becoming comfortable with the current situation. “I am hopeful about where we can go, but I am not complacent about where we are,” she stated.

Gumbs said that if government is serious about transparency and rebuilding public confidence, it must be prepared to acknowledge shortcomings while also recognizing progress.

“If we are serious about transparency in governance, then we must be equally willing to speak plainly about where we are falling short as we are to speak about where we are making progress,” she said.

According to the Minister, Sint Maarten is facing an opportunity to correct its course, but doing so will require decisions that may not always be easy or politically comfortable.

“What I see before us is an opportunity to truly, as MP Wescot said, course correct, not just as a Government but as a country,” Gumbs said. She added that many of the decisions required to achieve meaningful change will challenge existing practices and the status quo.

Gumbs also outlined that her approach within ECYS is focused on strengthening systems rather than simply managing existing problems. She said her ministry is prioritizing evidence-based decision-making, filling critical vacancies, advancing necessary legislation, improving monitoring capacity and holding itself accountable for implementation.

She acknowledged that government cannot address every challenge simultaneously and must make realistic choices about priorities, resources and timelines.

“We have to make choices, sequence reforms properly, concentrate resources where they can produce results, and be prepared to say when something cannot responsibly be delivered within the timeframe or resources available,” Gumbs stated.

The Minister said her longer-term goal is to leave behind stronger institutions, clearer processes and systems that do not depend on individual office holders.

“For me, the longer-term objective is institutional: to leave behind stronger systems, clearer processes and better ways of working that do not depend on any one Minister or individual being in the chair,” she said.

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