PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport, and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has confirmed that no agreement or discussion is currently in place between the Government of St. Maarten and the organizers of Soul Beach Festival for the 2026 edition of the event.
Speaking at the Council of Ministers press briefing, Minister Heyliger-Marten addressed questions regarding the festival’s future after the Soul Beach website announced St. Maarten as its 2026 destination.
“No, there’s no discussion as yet with Soul Beach for 2026,” the Minister said. “As you’re aware, the 2025 budget amendment is still pending in Parliament. Given that situation, I can’t in good conscience have any agreement in place with Soul Beach right now.”
The Minister added that a SARE report on Soul Beach 2025 is expected to be submitted to her office shortly.
“The SARE report is on its way to me. We already discussed the deadline, so it should be readily available by next week or later next week,” she noted. “I’ll have it just in time for the meeting of November 17.”
Heyliger-Marten emphasized that the Government has made no financial commitments at this stage and that any future collaboration will depend on the report's findings and available budgetary resources.
“Of course, once I receive it, I’m sure it will be a public report,” she added.
Despite online announcements from the event’s organizers, the Minister reiterated that no formal agreement exists for 2026, underscoring that fiscal prudence and transparency remain priorities for the Ministry of TEATT.