PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Finance, Hon. Marinka J. Gumbs, attended the 10-year anniversary celebration of Audit Team Sint Maarten (ATS), marking a significant milestone for the foundation in its contribution to Sint Maarten’s tax and audit landscape.
Founded ten years ago, Audit Team Sint Maarten is a specialized foundation dedicated to conducting tax-related audits and supporting the strengthening of financial oversight and compliance on the island. Over the past decade, ATS has played an important role in enhancing the quality and professionalism of compliance and audit functions in Sint Maarten.
Notably, ATS employs several Sint Maarten-born professionals who were recruited directly from the Netherlands and are currently completing their qualification as Registered Accountants. This investment in local talent reflects ATS’s commitment to capacity building and sustainable professional development within Sint Maarten.
During the event, Minister Gumbs congratulated ATS on its decade of service and commended the organization for its dedication, expertise, and contribution to public financial accountability. She expressed optimism that ATS will continue to support Sint Maarten in strengthening its tax administration and audit practices in the years ahead.
She concluded by wishing ATS continued success as it enters its next decade of service to Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Since his first week in office in December 2024, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Hon. Richinel S.J. Brug, has been actively engaging with the National Recovery and Planning Bureau (NRPB) and the World Bank to ensure that reconstruction and development projects on Sint Maarten meaningfully benefit local companies and workers. His early and consistent advocacy underscores a commitment to both project efficiency and the protection of Sint Maarten’s labor force.
In response to a formal request from the World Bank seeking clarity on how “local labor” should be defined, Minister Brug issued a policy response on January 26, 2026. The request arose in the context of ongoing reconstruction projects, where concerns had been raised about the availability of sufficient local contracting staff. The World Bank also asked whether certain labor-related fees could be waived or whether the definition of local labor could be broadened to include workers from other Caribbean nations or parts of Latin America when specific skills are not available locally.
Minister Brug acknowledged the importance of keeping projects moving efficiently, while emphasizing that Sint Maarten’s labor laws exist to protect local workers and businesses, and must be upheld. He made clear that local workers must always be given the first opportunity, and that foreign labor should only be considered once it is evident that the required skills are unavailable within the local labor market.
On February 3, 2026, the World Bank responded in writing, confirming its understanding of the Government of Sint Maarten’s position. The Bank agreed that contractors must first exhaust the local labor market and comply with Sint Maarten’s labor (and immigration) rules before seeking workers from abroad. The Bank also recognized the Rapid Permit Policy as a practical tool to address urgent labor needs when local expertise is unavailable, helping to prevent delays in project execution.
Importantly, the World Bank further committed to supporting local businesses by ensuring that, where possible within procurement rules, up to 30 percent of project work is subcontracted to local contractors, if no local contractor wins the initial bid. This approach enables meaningful local participation and ensures that specialized skills can still be accessed responsibly when required.
“Development should benefit our people first, while also allowing projects to move forward responsibly,” said Minister Brug. “This balanced approach protects local jobs, strengthens local businesses, and ensures that these projects deliver lasting value for Sint Maarten.”
Minister Brug emphasized that local participation is not about exclusion, but about fairness and opportunity. By working constructively with international partners such as the World Bank, the Government continues to ensure that economic development proceeds efficiently, lawfully, and in a way that puts Sint Maarteners at the center.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on February 9, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on January 16, 2026, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure will be in attendance.

The Minister will be returning to Parliament to answer questions posed by the Members of Parliament.

The agenda point is:
Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2025-2029 (IS/365/2025-2026 dated November 18, 2025)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the House rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the courthouse in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx ,and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

~Week of Dialogue Sets the Foundation for Implementation and Long-Term Economic Direction~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) successfully concluded its Strategic Economic Workshops and Stakeholder Consultations, held from February 2nd to 6th, 2026, at the Belair Community Center, under the theme “Addressing Sint Maarten’s Crossroads; Charting a New Way Forward.”

The five-day workshop brought together local and international experts, government representatives, private sector leaders, and community stakeholders to engage in open dialogue on the future of Sint Maarten’s economy. The initiative marks the beginning of a broader process toward preparing for implementation through the development of a Strategic Economic Plan aimed at strengthening economic stability, diversifying the economy, and ultimately improving the quality of life for the people of Sint Maarten.

“This week was never meant to be comfortable. It was meant to be real,” stated the Honorable Minister of TEATT during her closing remarks. “Forward by Design is not a slogan. It is a decision to move from drifting to designing. The true measure of success will not be what was said here, but what we do next.”

Serving as Master of Ceremonies throughout the week was Rolando Tobias, whose facilitation supported meaningful dialogue and ensured continuity across each day’s discussions and stakeholder engagement.

The workshop unfolded across five thematic days, each addressing a critical component of Sint Maarten’s economic development. Day One, Setting the Stage and Defining the Path Forward, established the national context and economic realities facing the country, with keynote contributions from Secretary General Miguel de Weever, Bernise Stoffer of RVO, Shervin Frederick of TEATT, and international tourism strategist Vincent Vanterpool Wallace. Discussions focused on aligning short term economic stability with long term transformation goals and strengthening collaboration across institutions.

Day Two, The Future of Tourism, Yachting, Safety and Security, was moderated by tourism strategist Jim (James) Hepple and centered on opportunities and risks shaping Sint Maarten’s tourism future, highlighting the importance of safety, sustainability, and quality of life. Contributions from Chief of Police Carl John, hotelier Emil Lee, Anastacio Baker, Alex Gumbs of Port St. Maarten Group, and Leslie Dickerson, Director of the Nature Foundation, underscored the need for stronger coordination, climate conscious planning, improved mobility, and ensuring that tourism growth remains aligned with community wellbeing.

Day Three, Policy and Cross Sector Alignment, focused on strengthening collaboration across ministries and sectors. Presentations addressed economic policy, labor dynamics, health, education, housing, transportation, and competition law, with contributions from local experts including Jessica Rogers, Sharilyn Bryson, Peggy Ann Dros, Fenna Arnell, Kenson Plaisimond, Erin Ellis, and Lucien Wilson. International expertise was also provided by Matthijs Visser from the Netherlands, whose work with Aruba’s Competition Authority offered insight into fair trade practices and regulatory development. Discussions emphasized that policy cannot exist in silos and that coordinated governance is essential to achieving sustainable outcomes.

Day Four, Innovation and Diversification, shifted attention toward emerging sectors and new economic opportunities. Keynote speakers such as Gregory Richardson explored innovation, cybersecurity, and the digital economy, while Brian Deher discussed maritime development within the Blue Economy and Josiah Halley highlighted agricultural potential within the Green Economy. Conversations reinforced that diversification is not about abandoning tourism but strengthening it while deliberately building new lanes for growth.

Day Five, Orange Economy and Next Steps, highlighted culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth. The panel discussion, moderated by King Verse, featured Kelvin Hodge James (King James), Bianca Dijkhoff (DJ BB Bad), Zillah Duzon, Mercedes Wyatte (Elektra), Renata de Weever, Clara Reyes, and Pearl Hendrickson. Panelists expressed a shared passion for protecting Sint Maarten’s culture and creative identity, emphasizing the importance of recognizing local ambassadors, creating meaningful incentives, and shifting from assumptions to genuine engagement by asking, listening, and placing creatives at the center of development conversations. The week concluded with reflections on the next phase of work, emphasizing that consultation must now transition into structured action.

The Ministry emphasized that the workshop represents the starting point toward implementation. The insights gathered will now inform stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, and the drafting of a Strategic Economic Plan, which will be presented for further feedback before finalization.

“The results we saw in 2025, including over 1.6 million cruise passengers and more than 855,000 passenger arrivals, were achieved through collective effort,” the Minister noted. “But growth must translate into opportunity and quality of life for our people. That is the direction we are building toward.”

The Ministry recognizes that not everyone was able to attend the sessions throughout the week. Stakeholders, residents, and organizations who wish to provide input are encouraged to remain engaged by contacting the Ministry of TEATT at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Feedback received will be incorporated into the ongoing development of the Strategic Economic Plan.

The Ministry extended gratitude to its partners, including TWO, RVO, and the many government departments and stakeholders who supported the initiative, as well as the technical crews, event planners, catering teams, and venue staff who ensured the success of the week. Appreciation was also expressed to every business leader, civil servant, expert, and community stakeholder who participated in shaping the dialogue.

“This week confirmed that Sint Maarten does not lack ideas or talent. What we need now is alignment, ownership, and execution,” the Minister concluded. “On Monday we set the stage. This week we aligned. And from here, together, we move forward, by design.”