PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on February 9, 2026.

The Central Committee meeting, which was adjourned on January 16, 2026, will be reconvened on Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure will be in attendance.

The Minister will be returning to Parliament to answer questions posed by the Members of Parliament.

The agenda point is:
Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2025-2029 (IS/365/2025-2026 dated November 18, 2025)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations.

All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the House rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the courthouse in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx ,and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament

~Week of Dialogue Sets the Foundation for Implementation and Long-Term Economic Direction~

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) successfully concluded its Strategic Economic Workshops and Stakeholder Consultations, held from February 2nd to 6th, 2026, at the Belair Community Center, under the theme “Addressing Sint Maarten’s Crossroads; Charting a New Way Forward.”

The five-day workshop brought together local and international experts, government representatives, private sector leaders, and community stakeholders to engage in open dialogue on the future of Sint Maarten’s economy. The initiative marks the beginning of a broader process toward preparing for implementation through the development of a Strategic Economic Plan aimed at strengthening economic stability, diversifying the economy, and ultimately improving the quality of life for the people of Sint Maarten.

“This week was never meant to be comfortable. It was meant to be real,” stated the Honorable Minister of TEATT during her closing remarks. “Forward by Design is not a slogan. It is a decision to move from drifting to designing. The true measure of success will not be what was said here, but what we do next.”

Serving as Master of Ceremonies throughout the week was Rolando Tobias, whose facilitation supported meaningful dialogue and ensured continuity across each day’s discussions and stakeholder engagement.

The workshop unfolded across five thematic days, each addressing a critical component of Sint Maarten’s economic development. Day One, Setting the Stage and Defining the Path Forward, established the national context and economic realities facing the country, with keynote contributions from Secretary General Miguel de Weever, Bernise Stoffer of RVO, Shervin Frederick of TEATT, and international tourism strategist Vincent Vanterpool Wallace. Discussions focused on aligning short term economic stability with long term transformation goals and strengthening collaboration across institutions.

Day Two, The Future of Tourism, Yachting, Safety and Security, was moderated by tourism strategist Jim (James) Hepple and centered on opportunities and risks shaping Sint Maarten’s tourism future, highlighting the importance of safety, sustainability, and quality of life. Contributions from Chief of Police Carl John, hotelier Emil Lee, Anastacio Baker, Alex Gumbs of Port St. Maarten Group, and Leslie Dickerson, Director of the Nature Foundation, underscored the need for stronger coordination, climate conscious planning, improved mobility, and ensuring that tourism growth remains aligned with community wellbeing.

Day Three, Policy and Cross Sector Alignment, focused on strengthening collaboration across ministries and sectors. Presentations addressed economic policy, labor dynamics, health, education, housing, transportation, and competition law, with contributions from local experts including Jessica Rogers, Sharilyn Bryson, Peggy Ann Dros, Fenna Arnell, Kenson Plaisimond, Erin Ellis, and Lucien Wilson. International expertise was also provided by Matthijs Visser from the Netherlands, whose work with Aruba’s Competition Authority offered insight into fair trade practices and regulatory development. Discussions emphasized that policy cannot exist in silos and that coordinated governance is essential to achieving sustainable outcomes.

Day Four, Innovation and Diversification, shifted attention toward emerging sectors and new economic opportunities. Keynote speakers such as Gregory Richardson explored innovation, cybersecurity, and the digital economy, while Brian Deher discussed maritime development within the Blue Economy and Josiah Halley highlighted agricultural potential within the Green Economy. Conversations reinforced that diversification is not about abandoning tourism but strengthening it while deliberately building new lanes for growth.

Day Five, Orange Economy and Next Steps, highlighted culture, creativity, and entrepreneurship as drivers of economic growth. The panel discussion, moderated by King Verse, featured Kelvin Hodge James (King James), Bianca Dijkhoff (DJ BB Bad), Zillah Duzon, Mercedes Wyatte (Elektra), Renata de Weever, Clara Reyes, and Pearl Hendrickson. Panelists expressed a shared passion for protecting Sint Maarten’s culture and creative identity, emphasizing the importance of recognizing local ambassadors, creating meaningful incentives, and shifting from assumptions to genuine engagement by asking, listening, and placing creatives at the center of development conversations. The week concluded with reflections on the next phase of work, emphasizing that consultation must now transition into structured action.

The Ministry emphasized that the workshop represents the starting point toward implementation. The insights gathered will now inform stakeholder interviews, policy analysis, and the drafting of a Strategic Economic Plan, which will be presented for further feedback before finalization.

“The results we saw in 2025, including over 1.6 million cruise passengers and more than 855,000 passenger arrivals, were achieved through collective effort,” the Minister noted. “But growth must translate into opportunity and quality of life for our people. That is the direction we are building toward.”

The Ministry recognizes that not everyone was able to attend the sessions throughout the week. Stakeholders, residents, and organizations who wish to provide input are encouraged to remain engaged by contacting the Ministry of TEATT at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Feedback received will be incorporated into the ongoing development of the Strategic Economic Plan.

The Ministry extended gratitude to its partners, including TWO, RVO, and the many government departments and stakeholders who supported the initiative, as well as the technical crews, event planners, catering teams, and venue staff who ensured the success of the week. Appreciation was also expressed to every business leader, civil servant, expert, and community stakeholder who participated in shaping the dialogue.

“This week confirmed that Sint Maarten does not lack ideas or talent. What we need now is alignment, ownership, and execution,” the Minister concluded. “On Monday we set the stage. This week we aligned. And from here, together, we move forward, by design.”

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams has formally submitted questions to the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), seeking clarity on the recently announced Letter of Intent signed between the Ministry of VROMI and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), aimed at improving national mobility in Sint Maarten.

While welcoming initiatives intended to address the country’s longstanding traffic congestion, road safety concerns, and commuting delays, MP Wescot-Williams emphasized the need for clear, transparent, and practical information on what the signing of this Letter of Intent actually entails.

“Given the serious impact that traffic congestion and mobility challenges continue to have on productivity, tourism, small businesses, and quality of life, it is important that Parliament and the public clearly understand what this agreement represents and what outcomes can realistically be expected,” Wescot-Williams stated.

In her correspondence, the Member of Parliament requested clarification on several key issues, including:

• Whether the signing of the Letter of Intent marks the start of a new phase of work or formalizes assessments or engagements already undertaken with UNOPS or other partners;
• The scope and anticipated timeline of the cooperation, including milestones, studies, or pilot interventions;
• The specific deliverables expected under the collaboration, such as traffic or mobility studies, road safety recommendations, policy frameworks, or infrastructure proposals; and
• How the Ministry intends to ensure transparency and stakeholder engagement, including opportunities for Parliament, affected communities, and the business sector to review and provide input on findings and recommendations.

MP Wescot-Williams underscored that timely and detailed information is essential for Parliament to properly fulfill its oversight role and to help manage public expectations regarding both the short- and medium-term impact of the initiative.

“I look forward to the Minister’s response and to continued constructive dialogue on improving mobility and the overall quality of life for the people of Sint Maarten,” she concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is investigating a serious traffic accident that occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 9:00 PM on the A.J.C. Brouwers Road.

A vehicle traveling from Arlet Peters Road in the direction of Welgelegen Road was involved in an accident with a pedestrian who was crossing the road.

As a result of the accident, the pedestrian involved sustained serious injuries to his upper body and head.

The victim was later transported by ambulance to the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), where he remains in critical condition.

Further details regarding the injuries are not available at this time.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the officers.

The Traffic Department is conducting an investigation into this serious traffic incident.

KPSM Press Release.