~Department rises from roughly Cg. 1.7 million to Cg. 13 million, while subsidies surge 282%; Government acknowledges several projects delayed by late budget.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- The 2026 Budget represents a dramatic expansion of Government spending on economic diversification, agriculture and business development, with TEATT's own parliamentary responses showing major increases in departmental spending and subsidies as the Ministry attempts to move Sint Maarten beyond its traditional dependence on tourism.
The Department of Economic Affairs, Telecommunications and Transport increased from approximately Cg. 1.7 million to Cg. 13 million, an increase of roughly Cg. 11.3 million for projects and activities.
Approximately Cg. 4 million of that increase is connected to agriculture.
Across the broader ministry, parliamentary questions noted TEATT rising from roughly Cg. 24 million to Cg. 41 million, driven substantially by material expenditure.
Subsidies were also questioned after rising from approximately Cg. 767,000 to Cg. 2.932 million—an increase of 282 percent.
Government says the increased subsidy framework includes financing connected to the establishment of the Sint Maarten Tourism Authority and the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Agency, as well as the Carnival subsidy previously carried under another budget post.
What Has Actually Been Delivered?
The documents do identify measurable results.
Government reports that the Agribusiness Academy enrolled 25 participants, with two fisheries loan applications approved.
Hydroponics systems were installed in nine schools, and 27 people were trained.
More than 100 participants have received targeted MSME training through the Advanced Education Program. Sint Maarten has drafted its first fisheries and poultry policy documents, and the Agriculture Research Project has begun.
Government also reports holding its first Agriculture Expo at the University of St. Maarten and hosting the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance conference in 2025.
Loans at 2 Percent
The Agribusiness Academy is tied to a Qredits financing instrument offering loans at 2 percent interest, with provision for up to 20 loans—10 farmers and 10 fishers—and a maximum of US$50,000 per loan.
Twenty-five people completed the first cohort, and two fisher loan applications were approved, according to the working document.
The Agriculture Research Project carries an approximate Cg. 300,000 contract value and is expected to deliver an agricultural web portal, water-quality testing, support for selected farmers, and a farm-to-supermarket pilot.
The Advanced Education Program has approximately Cg. 1.1 million reflected in the 2026 Budget for the broader SME empowerment and support program.
But Actual Spending Still Unconfirmed
An important warning runs through the policy document.
The figures presented are allocations, contractual amounts or financing ceilings—not necessarily actual expenditure.
The document states that the financial controller must insert or confirm actual commitments and payments before submitting the information to Parliament.
That distinction is critical.
A Cg. 1.1 million programme allocation does not mean Cg. 1.1 million has been spent, just as allocating Cg. 250,000 for IPA research does not mean the full amount has already been paid.
Several initiatives have also been affected by delays in the 2026 budget amendment, procurement, and contracting.
The IPA research, SME finance study, Chamber/business-registry digitization, and economic licensing modernization all record delays or unresolved implementation issues.
That makes execution—not simply allocation—the central test of TEATT's expanded 2026 budget.
Government has placed considerably more money behind economic diversification. Parliament's job now is to determine, project by project, how much has actually been spent, what has actually been delivered, and how much of the enlarged 2026 program will simply roll into 2027.
