PHILIPSBURG—During his first radio interview since leaving office, former Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor Richinel Brug addressed the question many have been asking: What is next for Richinel Brug?
Speaking on PJD2 Radio Wednesday evening, Brug emphasized that he is carefully considering the possibilities before him.
“I am grateful to the many political parties that have reached out and asked me to consider joining their political lists,” Brug said. “I am also grateful to the people of Sint Maarten for their overwhelming and unexpected support. Many have come to me and said, ‘Wherever you go, we will follow.’”
He said others have encouraged him to take a different path.
“I also want to thank those who have come to me and said, ‘I believe it is time for you to start your own political party, and we will support you one hundred percent,’” Brug said.
According to Brug, the encouragement has not come only from those who have supported him in the past but rather the opposite and surprising to him many business persons within the community. Young and older members of the community have also approached him about becoming candidates under his leadership.
“They have come to me and said, ‘If you lead, we will be on that slate with you’.
Brug said he is humbled by the confidence people have placed in him and does not take their support lightly.
During the interview, Brug reflected on his 18 months in office and thanked the people of Sint Maarten for supporting him both during his tenure and following his departure.
Some key accomplishments during Brug’s 18 months as VSA Minister includes:
• Prioritized seniors through the Ageing with Dignity Conference, a national ageing framework and steps toward restoring the Council for the Elderly.
• Launched and extended a dignity-based food-support programme for vulnerable senior households.
• Distributed approximately 1,000 bags of fresh produce and initiated quarterly food distributions for vulnerable residents.
• Launched a six-month homelessness programme providing meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, outreach and pathways toward self-sufficiency.
• Introduced the GEBE Utility Relief Programme, assisting an average of 238 vulnerable households monthly during its first quarter.
• Restarting the Job Fair.
• Submitted SER requests to modernize financial assistance by establishing a poverty line, increasing support in qualifying cases by up to XCG 300, and raising funeral assistance from XCG 4,500 to XCG 9,000.
• Submitted labour-permit and fee reforms intended to prioritize local workers while allowing businesses to recruit foreign expertise when genuinely unavailable locally.
• Finalized the ten-year National Mental Health Strategic Plan, secured implementation funding and launched the “It’s OK Not 2 B OK” youth campaign.
• Secured mental-health support for VSA staff, including awareness sessions, psychological assistance and a staff recovery room.
• Established “Minister in Your Neighbourhood,” bringing VSA services directly into communities.
• Secured an Ambulance Unit at the Festival Village and signed a covenant addressing working conditions and longstanding employee concerns.
• Secured an Interim Inspector General of IVSA after years without stable medical leadership.
• Led a health mission to Colombia that opened recruitment pathways to doctors registered within European professional systems.
• Created opportunities for permanent and structured rotating (European BIG registered) doctors at SMMC, along with medical training and institutional cooperation.
• Introduced a VSA management dashboard to monitor departmental objectives, budgets, timelines and results.
• Procured laptops for VSA employees and secured additional legal, legislative and technical support for the Ministry.
• Strengthened IVSA’s oversight capacity through externally funded technical and institutional support.
• Oversaw increases in the statutory minimum wage and maximum AOV pension.
• Advanced the healthcare-professionals registry, General Health Insurance legislation and mental-health legislative reform.
• Began structurally modernizing VSA through strategic planning, staff development, digitization and evidence-based management.
• Put country above party politics: Worked constructively with ministers and MPs from both the coalition and opposition—including expanding the school breakfast program with MP Sjamira Roseburg, raising the funeral assistance with MP Doran, supporting the animal spaying and neutering initiative with MP Francisco Lacroes, and ensuring that SZV honored their commitment to ECYS by funding a new multi-sport court at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex in Cay Hill. This cooperation showed that meaningful results are possible when Sint Maarten’s interests come first.
During his interview, Brug also expressed his appreciation to the civil servants within the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor for their dedication, professionalism and support. Brug emphasized that the ministry’s accomplishments were the result of a collective effort involving civil servants and his cabinet.
He made clear that losing his ministerial title has not ended his commitment to public service. As part of that continued commitment, Brug announced that he is organizing a special initiative for the island’s seniors in observance of the International Day of Older Persons on October 1. Further details will be announced in due course.
Brug ended the interview on a hopeful note, telling the people of Sint Maarten that he intends to remain involved in shaping the country’s future.
“Your humble servant, Richinel Brug, will be one of the deciding factors in the next election.”
While stopping short of announcing his next political move, Brug’s remarks made clear that forming his own party is among the options under serious consideration.
He concluded by thanking Moore, PJD2 Radio and the people of Sint Maarten.
