PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has expressed serious concerns about St. Maarten’s ability to function effectively on its current budget of 530 million guilders. Responding to questions about the return on investment (ROI) of study financing, the Minister highlighted the broader financial challenges facing the country and the need for significant budgetary reform.
“Let’s be honest—530 million guilders is not enough to run this country,” Heyliger-Marten stated. “When we talk about study financing or any other investment in our people, we have to look at the bigger picture. How can we expect meaningful returns when the entire system is underfunded? We need at least 200 to 250 million guilders more annually just to meet basic obligations, pay competitive salaries, and ensure our ministries can function properly.”
The Minister pointed out that key sectors like Education, Justice, and Public Health (VSA) are already struggling with insufficient funding. “Education receives 120 million guilders, Justice gets 107 million, and VSA operates on 97 million. These are the largest portions of the budget, yet they’re still not enough. What does that say about our priorities?” she asked.
Heyliger-Marten also shed light on the financial constraints within her own ministry. TEATT, which plays a critical role in driving the economy, receives just 22 million guilders, with only 4 million allocated for marketing the country. “We are the backbone of St. Maarten’s economy, yet we’re expected to deliver results with a fraction of the resources we need. How can we talk about ROI on study financing or any other initiative when the foundation is so weak?”
The Minister emphasized that these challenges are not new and predate the current administration. “We’ve inherited a budget that doesn’t reflect our vision. Budget 2024 was already in place when we took office, and Budget 2025 had already been submitted. We’re trying to align our ideas with a framework that doesn’t support them, and that’s a difficult exercise,” she explained.
To address these issues, Heyliger-Marten called for a comprehensive approach to increasing revenue and plugging financial gaps. She cited Barbados as an example of a country implementing innovative measures, such as a Tourist Accommodation Bill, to improve compliance, boost tax revenue, and create fairer competition in the tourism sector.
“TEATT is actively researching how to adapt these kinds of measures to St. Maarten’s needs,” she said. “We’re analyzing where we’re losing money, learning from regional best practices, and aligning ourselves with professionals who can help us bridge the gaps. The goal is to yield meaningful financial income for the country.”
Heyliger-Marten also highlighted ongoing discussions with regional counterparts, including Barbados’s former Minister of Economic Affairs, Chad Blackman, as part of efforts to explore proven strategies. “These are the kinds of conversations we’re having,” she noted. “We’re paying attention to what works elsewhere and figuring out how to do it better here.”
In conclusion, the Minister stressed that without a significant cash injection, St. Maarten will remain stuck in a cycle of underperformance. “We need to find the money to do right by the people. Whether it’s study financing or any other investment, we can’t expect meaningful returns if we don’t have the resources to support them. 530 million guilders is simply not enough.”
