PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten plans to meet local maritime stakeholders before approaching her Anguilla counterparts over concerns affecting charter boats operating in Anguilla’s waters.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing, the minister said the issue should be addressed through constructive dialogue, with both jurisdictions’ concerns heard and their legal responsibilities respected.
Heyliger-Marten, the only minister present at the briefing, said she expected to meet with the maritime sector shortly, provisionally referring to the following day. She would then seek discussions with Anguilla.
She did not announce that an agreement had already been reached, that restrictions had been lifted or that any operating requirements had changed.
St. Maarten and Anguilla share family connections, historical ties and tourism interests, she said. Maritime operators have long helped visitors move between the islands, so it's important to resolve disagreements without letting them escalate.
The minister said St. Maarten must be willing to listen to Anguilla’s authorities while ensuring that local operators’ interests receive equal attention.
She explained that the objective is to identify practical solutions that respect both jurisdictions' responsibilities and allow legitimate maritime activity to continue.
“Let’s sit together and discuss the concern and work towards a solution that benefits both our islands,” she said in her appeal to Anguilla.
The briefing did not specify the disputed requirements, identify individual operators or provide a detailed account of the incidents behind the concerns. It also did not give a confirmed date for talks with Anguilla or quantify the economic impact on charter businesses.
The sequence announced was consultation at home followed by engagement with the neighboring government. That would allow the minister to take the sector’s concerns into the proposed discussions.
For charter operators, the next step is therefore a consultation process. Wednesday’s announcement did not establish a settlement or authorize any change in how they operate in Anguilla’s waters.