PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has announced several initiatives aimed at developing Sint Maarten’s fisheries into a stronger, better-organized and sustainable economic sector.

Speaking during the weekly Council of Ministers press briefing, Heyliger-Marten said the Government is taking a practical approach by training residents, providing equipment and infrastructure, improving fish handling and preservation, and creating new economic opportunities for local fishers.

Twenty Participants Complete Fisheries Training

The minister congratulated the 20 participants who successfully completed the first cohort of the fisheries training program, held from August 31 to September 5.

The Sint Maarten Entrepreneurship Development Center (SEDC) implemented the program, with Country Package support and in collaboration with the Department of Economy, Transportation and Telecommunication (ETT).

The Nature Foundation provided technical and environmental expertise, while seasoned local fisherman Lee Lake brought practical fishing knowledge and fisheries entrepreneurship experience into the classroom.

According to Heyliger-Marten, demand for the program exceeded the number of available spaces, showing strong interest among residents seeking to enter or expand in the industry.

A second training cohort is expected.

“This is exactly what we want to see: not simply talking about agriculture and fisheries, but building the skills and capacity that allow people to participate in these sectors as businesses,” Heyliger-Marten said.

Fish Aggregating Devices Arrive From Curaçao

The minister also announced that Fish Aggregating Devices, commonly known as FADs, donated by the Government of Curaçao have arrived in Sint Maarten.

Preparations are underway for their deployment, with a team of experts from Curaçao expected to travel to the island to oversee the operation. Weather permitting, the FADs are scheduled to be deployed around mid-next week.

Heyliger-Marten publicly thanked Captain Roche Lesperance, who will assist with the deployment using his vessel, Blessing.

Lesperance, a former fisherman and longtime supporter of the fishing community, has offered his vessel and services at no cost.

“That is the type of community partnership we appreciate,” the minister stated.

Participants from the fisheries training cohorts are also expected to receive practical instruction later this year on the sustainable use of FADs, proper fish handling and cold-chain management.

Ice Machine Planned for Simpson Bay Fish Market

Meanwhile, the TEATT Ministry is moving forward with procuring a dedicated ice-making machine for the Simpson Bay Fish Market.

The machine will produce flaked and shaved ice specifically for registered local fishers. According to the minister, this type of ice is better suited for surrounding freshly caught fish and maintaining the correct temperature during transport and storage.

Heyliger-Marten said the investment would support food safety, product quality and shelf life while increasing the value of locally caught fish brought to market.

Local fishermen and fisherwomen who have not yet registered are encouraged to do so through the ETT Department, attention to Wendy Jack.

“Our objective is to continue putting the building blocks in place so that fisheries can grow from an activity into a stronger, more organized and sustainable economic sector,” Heyliger-Marten said.

~Public Transportation Committee to return after more than 15 years as Government prepares permit reviews and stricter enforcement.~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has announced a sweeping reform of Sint Maarten’s public transportation sector, targeting dormant permits, inaccurate government records and unauthorized operators providing paid VIP and private transportation services.
Heyliger-Marten said the Confirmation Letter Process, transportation database clean-up, enforcement against inactive and unauthorized permits, reestablishment of the Public Transportation Committee and regulation of private passenger services are all part of a single reform effort.
“Our objective is to restore structure, accountability, fairness and professionalism to the public transportation sector,” the minister stated.

Transportation Committee Returning After Years of Inactivity
A central part of the reform is the formal reestablishment of the Public Transportation Committee (PTC), which available records indicate has not operated since approximately 2009.

Heyliger-Marten said restoring the committee would reintroduce an important layer of consultation, sector representation and checks and balances that has been missing for well over a decade.
The committee will include representatives from the five recognized transportation categories: taxis, buses, T-plates, G-plates and car rentals.
Its responsibilities will include advising the minister, reviewing applications and other referred matters, consulting transportation stakeholders, presenting sector concerns and making recommendations to support more transparent decision-making.
The appointment of members and the committee's formal reestablishment are currently going through the required approval process. Heyliger-Marten said she hopes to sign the final Landsbesluit shortly so the committee can begin its work.
Its first major assignment will be reviewing the results of the transportation database clean-up that began in January.

Dozens of Permits Remain Outstanding.

The TEATT Ministry and the Inspectorate of Economic and Transportation Affairs (IETA) are now entering the final phase of the 2026 Confirmation Letter Process.
Permit holders have been given several months to confirm whether they are actively operating, submit their documentation and correct their records.
For car rentals, the final notice period runs from September 7 through September 21. Approximately 48 operators are compliant, while about 30 permits known to IETA remain outstanding.
For Touring Cars, or T-plates, the final notice period runs from September 14 through September 28. Approximately 48 permits are compliant, while around 20 remain outstanding.
In the G-plate category, approximately 14 permits are compliant, with about 18 known permits still outstanding.
The final notice period for buses and taxis will run from September 21 through October 5. Updated figures for those categories are expected next week.
Heyliger-Marten warned transportation permit holders not to ignore the final notice.
“If you have a transportation permit and you have not yet regularized your status, do not wait,” she said.
Permit holders must contact IETA at 559-7685, indicate whether their permits are active or inactive, submit the required documents, and ensure that their records are in order.

Dormant Permits Could Face Revocation

By October, the Government will have spent approximately nine months cleaning up the transportation database.
Under Article 16(g) of the National Ordinance on Passenger Transport, a permit not used for a continuous period exceeding six months may be temporarily suspended or permanently revoked.
Heyliger-Marten said the ministry has already gone beyond that six-month period by giving permit holders additional time to come forward.
Once the applicable deadlines expire, unused permits for which no status information has been submitted will be recorded as dormant, pending further review.
The results of the database clean-up are then expected to go before the reestablished Public Transportation Committee. The committee will examine the number of active operators, market demand, possible oversaturation within individual categories and whether there is room for dormant permits to return to the market.
Its findings could result in recommendations on whether certain dormant permits should remain inactive or be considered for revocation.
The minister stressed that permits would not be taken away arbitrarily and that legal rights to object or appeal would remain available.
“The purpose is to finally establish an accurate picture of the transportation sector and then make future decisions based on data, demand, fairness and the law rather than guesswork,” she said.

Government Draws Line on Illegal VIP Transportation

Heyliger-Marten also delivered a direct warning to operators providing paid passenger transportation under labels such as VIP, executive, luxury, private, chauffeured, shuttle or airport-transfer services.
“If you are transporting passengers for compensation on the public roads of Sint Maarten, you must have the appropriate passenger transport authorization required by law,” she declared.
Pre-booking a service or arranging it through a hotel, villa, concierge, business, travel agency or online platform does not automatically exempt an operator from the passenger transportation laws.
The minister also clarified that registration at the Chamber of Commerce or holding a business license is not equivalent to having a passenger transportation permit.

“You can be legally registered as a business and still not be legally authorized to perform a regulated transportation activity,” she said.
Recognized plate categories within the regulated system include Taxi, Bus, T and G plates. The use of an ordinary P or M plate does not, by itself, prove that an operator is authorized to transport paying passengers.
Heyliger-Marten acknowledged that some vehicles may operate under specific authorization from IETA and cautioned against making conclusions based solely on the plate displayed. However, without a transportation permit or other lawful authorization, paid passenger services cannot legally operate merely by describing themselves as VIP or private transportation.

Ports, Hotels and Villas to Receive Formal Warning

The ministry and IETA are examining short-term measures to address unauthorized VIP and private transportation while the broader reform continues.
Heyliger-Marten said formal letters would be sent to port authorities, hotels, villas, and other stakeholders, outlining their responsibilities.
Ports of entry, hotels, villas, concierge services, event organizers and tour operators are being asked to verify that transportation providers are properly permitted before arranging services for guests or clients.
The minister said legitimate transportation operators must pay for the required insurance, inspections, permits and documentation. Allowing unauthorized operators to provide the same commercial services without meeting those obligations creates unfair competition.
“This is not about preventing VIP or executive transportation,” Heyliger-Marten said. “Sint Maarten is a premium tourism destination, and there is absolutely a place for high-quality private and executive transportation.”
“Premium service cannot mean unregulated service. Everyone must operate within a fair and lawful framework.”