“Sint Maarten was built by the hands of working people. Today, we grieve for one of them.”
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Prime Minister of Sint Maarten, the Honorable Dr. Luc Mercelina, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), has expressed profound sorrow, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the people of Sint Maarten, at the passing of Mr. Wayne Drummond.
Mr. Drummond died from severe burn injuries sustained on Sunday, September 20, 2026, while performing his duties at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort. He had been medically evacuated to Colombia for specialized treatment.
On Behalf of the Nation
“On behalf of the Government and the people of Sint Maarten, I extend my deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Wayne Drummond. To his loved ones: our whole country shares in your loss, and we hold you close in our thoughts and prayers.
Our island is known the world over for its hospitality. What the world does not always see are the men and women who make that hospitality possible: the workers who start before sunrise, who keep the lights on, the water hot and the machinery running, often in conditions that are hot, heavy and demanding. Mr. Drummond was one of those workers. His dedication was part of the foundation on which our economy and our national reputation stand. We honor him, and we honor every worker like him.
As a physician, I understand the suffering that injuries of this kind bring, and the courage it takes for a family to keep vigil through it. I recognize, too, the care given by the medical professionals who treated him, here at home and abroad. Their efforts, and his fight, deserve our respect.
To the workers of Sint Maarten, and especially to Mr. Drummond’s colleagues: your safety is not a private matter between you and your employer. It is a national priority. No one should have to choose between earning a living and coming home safely to their family.
May God comfort the Drummond family, grant them peace in this dark hour, and may Mr. Drummond rest in eternal peace.”
— Hon. Dr. Luc Mercelina, Prime Minister of Sint Maarten
Full Support for the Ministry of VSA
In his capacity as Deputy Minister of VSA, the Prime Minister expressed his full support for Minister Claret Connor and for the formal investigation by the Labor Inspectorate under the Safety Ordinance (Veiligheidslandsverordening). He stressed that the investigation must be allowed to proceed thoroughly and independently, and that no conclusions should be drawn before it is complete.
“The family deserves answers, and the workers of this country deserve assurance that the law will be applied,” said the Prime Minister. “The Government will give the Labor Inspectorate the backing it needs to do this work properly, including specialist technical support where required.”
The Prime Minister also noted that the families of workers who die as a result of an accident at work may be entitled to support under the Accident Insurance administered by SZV, including a funeral grant and survivors’ benefits, regardless of any finding of fault, and that Government will help ensure Mr. Drummond’s family receives the information and assistance they need.
Honoring His Memory
“We cannot bring Mr. Drummond back,” said the Prime Minister. “But we can make sure that his passing leads to lasting change, so that other families are spared this pain. That is how a nation honors its workers.”
The Prime Minister closed by asking the people of Sint Maarten to keep the Drummond family in their prayers and to surround them with the compassion and care for which our community is known, while respecting their privacy as they grieve. He also asked that, out of respect for the family and for the process, the public refrain from speculation about the circumstances of the incident until the investigation has run its course. “In moments like this, we are reminded that we are one people,” said the Prime Minister. “Let us stand together with this family, today and in the days to come.”
