PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is set to experience a significant boost to its cultural and economic sectors with the return of the Soka Rumble competition and the announcement of a high-level Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop. Both initiatives, highlighted in a recent press briefing by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, signal a commitment to empowering local talent and collaboratively planning the nation's future.
After a six-year break, Soka Rumble is back, providing a vital platform for the island's artists. Now managed by a non-profit organization to ensure fairness and transparency, the competition aims to propel local music onto the global stage under the banner "St. Martin Soka to the World." Minister Heyliger-Marten described the event as more than just a competition, calling it "a launchpad for your music, your voice and your future."
The registration deadline for artists has been extended, offering more opportunities to participate. To be eligible, artists must be residents of St. Martin, be 18 years or older, and submit original tracks that have been professionally mixed and mastered for the 2026 Carnival season. Interested artists can register by contacting the organizing team via WhatsApp at 526-SOKA (526-7622) or through the official Soka Rumble Facebook page.
In parallel with efforts to steer the island's economic future, the Ministry of TEATT will host the Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop from February 2nd to the 6th. The five-day, invitation-only event, titled "Addressing St. Martin's Crossroads and Charting a New Way Forward," will take place at the Belair Community Center.
The workshop is designed to tackle complex, interconnected challenges through inclusive and cross-sectoral dialogue. Each day will focus on a specific theme, including tourism development, safety and security, the blue economy (maritime and yachting), and the orange economy (arts, culture, and festivals). The goal is to move from discussion to decisive action, creating a Strategic Economic Development Plan with concrete, actionable steps.
"This process is about real input, real ownership, and shared responsibility for the way forward," stated Minister Heyliger-Marten, emphasizing a shift from talk to action. "This is what governing forward by design looks like, not reacting to crisis, but deliberately planning the future of St. Martin together."
The workshop will bring together representatives from the private sector, labor unions, government-owned entities, independent bodies, and various ministries. While the event is by invitation, experts in the relevant fields who wish to contribute are encouraged to contact Secretary-General Miguel de Wever at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Head of the ETT department, Shervin Frederick, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
