MP Omar Ottley Questions Government spending $500,000.00 on Soul Beach Festival
MP Omar E.C. Ottley Questions Government spending $500,000.00 on Soul Beach Festival, Whilst still no relief for our people.
PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – Amid ongoing financial challenges, Member of Parliament and Leader of the United People’s Party, Omar E.C. Ottley, has voiced concern over the government’s decision to allocate $1.4 million to the Soul Beach Festival.
MP Ottley questioned the government’s priorities by highlighting the island’s critical issues, including a reduced education budget, unpaid justice workers, increasing gun violence, and deteriorating infrastructure. “The dark days described by the coalition government are becoming darker as they prioritize a festival over essential needs such as food, safety, and the future of our nation,” he said.
While the festival has been promoted as a potential boost for tourism, MP Ottley raised concerns about its financial justification. Originally planned as a joint venture with French St. Martin, recent reports suggest the French side may not contribute, leaving St. Maarten to shoulder the entire cost.
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Adding to the controversy, $500,000 has already been spent, but the source of these funds remains unclear.
“Where are the priorities of this government?” MP Ottley asked, emphasizing the lack of transparency in approving the festival budget without parliamentary debate or inclusion in the national budget.
During a parliamentary discussion on the 2025 budget, MPs criticized the government for failing to address critical issues such as public infrastructure, education, and employment opportunities. Following the Meeting, MP Ottley clarified his position in a press release stating that he was not opposed to the Soul Beach Festival. “However, there are too many things that deserved urgent attention, especially during challenging economic times, for the government to justify spending US$1.4 million now amidst drastic budgets cuts.”
“The timing of this expenditure could not be worse,” he said.
“This money could have been better used to address urgent needs,” he stated. “If we are truly facing our darkest days, how can the government justify spending on a festival instead of investing in solutions that improve the lives of our people?”
Growth and tourism are important, but they cannot come at the sacrifice of the people who make this island what it is.”
MP Ottley called for the government to prioritize long-term solutions over short-term distractions, urging leadership that focuses on lifting the nation out of its current challenges.