PHILIPSBURG — The long-awaited digital transformation of the Immigration and Naturalization Department (IND) has hit a snag, with Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling confirming that the new system’s launch has been pushed back to April 2026.

During Wednesday’s Council of Ministers press briefing, Minister Tackling addressed concerns regarding ongoing delays, the permit backlog, and questions surrounding "red flags" on investor applications.

System Launch Delayed to Avoid Confusion

Initially slated for a January rollout, the new immigration management system is now expected to go live in the second quarter of the year. Minister Tackling explained that the delay was a strategic decision to prevent administrative chaos.

"The idea was that we would launch at the beginning of this year. However, not all of the system is ready," Tackling stated. She noted that the department considered a partial launch but ultimately rejected the idea. "I didn't want us to have some permits in a new system while family members would have to apply in the old system. That's not efficient."

The Minister emphasized that a "splintered, segmented system" would confuse the public and burden immigration staff by checking two separate databases. She has instructed the developers to deliver a fully complete system before going public. Once ready, the launch will be accompanied by a multilingual awareness campaign in English, Spanish, and Creole to ensure all segments of the population can navigate the new process.

Backlog Battle Continues

Despite the technological delays, the Minister maintained that significant progress has been made on the processing backlog.

"Up to last week, I was told, hey, we're pretty much caught up," Tackling said, though she acknowledged that individual cases often slip through the cracks. She attributed many lingering delays to incomplete files or communication breakdowns, including emails from the IND that fail to reach applicants.

However, media reports suggest a different reality on the ground, with claims that simple renewal requests have gone unanswered for over a year. The Minister committed to investigating these specific discrepancies.

Unexplained “Red Flags” for Investors

A critical point of contention arose over reports that foreign investors are encountering "red flags" in their residency applications, allegedly delaying major real estate purchases.

When pressed on why legitimate investors might be flagged, Minister Tackling admitted she was unfamiliar with specific cases requiring a permit before purchasing property. "That doesn't make sense to me that you need a permit to buy a property, because normally you would buy the property first and request the permit after," she noted.

While she could not provide specific reasons for these flags without more details, Tackling defended the department’s compliance measures. She stressed that the IND must screen for public order, safety, and potential misuse of the immigration system.

"We have a compliance department within immigration... looking at, is there a kind of misuse of our immigration system going on?" she explained.

As the April deadline approaches, pressure remains on the Ministry of Justice to deliver a functional system that balances efficiency with the necessary security checks required for St. Maarten’s growing economy.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Soul Beach Music Festival, a significant event for Sint Maarten's tourism sector, will not be held this year, according to statements from the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten. The decision stems from a breakdown in a planned collaboration.
The Minister explained that the intention was to host the festival this year through a partnership with the French side of the island. This collaboration was contingent on the French side making a deposit last year to secure the 2026 event.
"We were trying to host Soul Beach this year, but with the collaboration of the French side, who was supposed to then make the deposit last year to secure this year, and that unfortunately didn't happen," Minister Heyliger-Marten stated during the Council of Ministers Press Briefing. "Unfortunate, but it wasn't possible, and that's one of the reasons Soul Beach isn't here."
Despite this year's cancellation, the Minister remains a firm believer in the festival's value to the country. She highlighted its positive impact and confirmed that a detailed report on the event's contributions is forthcoming.
"I still believe in Soul Beach," she affirmed. "You'll get a full breakdown of what Soul Beach brought to this country last year, and then you'll understand the importance of why Soul Beach is still something we will not let go."
The Minister also noted that she is awaiting a final report from the General Audit Chamber regarding the festival, which she expects to receive shortly. Once the report is in hand, she plans to present the findings to Parliament and the public.

~ CEO position under review~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten provided an important update today on the progress and future direction of national utility company GEBE. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to regulatory oversight, the Minister detailed new steps being taken to ensure reliable service, compliance, and consumer protection.

The Minister began by placing the government’s involvement in context, recalling that the Prime Minister led a stabilization phase at GEBE in recent months to ensure service continuity for the community. Now, Heyliger-Marten noted, with stability restored and a new Supervisory Board, CFO, and COO in place, the time is right for GEBE to move into a phase focused on regulation, compliance, and lawful tariff oversight under TEATT. She also addressed the CEO position, confirming that it is currently under review and no further comment can be offered until the process is complete.

On January 20th, the Minister formally instructed GEBE to demonstrate compliance with its electricity concession and to submit a proposed tariff structure within 30 days. She explained that this activates formal compliance mechanisms, a process not used in many years, and is an essential step toward responsible regulation.

The review of any proposed tariff changes will be based on the findings of the BTP/RAC evaluation completed in April 2025. This evaluation highlighted areas for improvement, specifically in data, transparency, and reporting, which must be addressed before any tariff changes are considered.

Minister Heyliger-Marten emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure that inefficiencies are not passed on to consumers. She stated that any new tariff structure must be transparent, non-discriminatory, and include suitable social protections, particularly for seniors.

In conclusion, the Minister reiterated that GEBE is a government-owned company serving the people of Sint Maarten and must always operate in their best interests. The new compliance measures and regulatory steps reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to responsible oversight and improved public service.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger Marten announced at the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday that earlier this year, the Ministry of TEATT launched the Public Transportation Confirmation Process 2026, with a clear deadline of February 27th, 2026, for all operators to complete the process.

The Minister said that this is more than an administrative requirement; it is a critical step for the government to verify that all operators are active, compliant, and authorized to safely transport residents and visitors. This process enhances oversight, safeguards passengers, and promotes fairness for those operators who adhere to regulations.

Buses: Addressing Low Participation and Service Standards

Of the 138 registered buses, only 36 have completed the confirmation process so far. This low participation rate is a concern because it directly affects the reliability and safety of the public transportation network. The Ministry recognizes that some operators may face challenges in organizing documentation or meeting updated compliance requirements, but stresses that these standards are necessary to clean up the sector and remove inactive or non-compliant operators from the roads.

A key part of the "cleaning up" process involves filtering out buses that are not currently serving the public, are in disrepair, or have not met safety or licensing standards. By confirming only buses that meet all requirements, the Ministry aims to ensure a safer, more efficient, and better-maintained fleet. This will directly benefit passengers by reducing risks and raising the overall standard of public transportation.

Taxis: Overcoming Barriers for Full Compliance

Similarly, among the 454 taxi operators, only 125 have submitted the necessary information. This indicates that a significant number of taxi operators still need to take urgent action. Some of the challenges faced include outdated paperwork, lapsed permits, or uncertainty about new procedural steps. The Ministry is actively engaging with taxi associations and individual operators to provide guidance, answer questions, and ensure that every legitimate taxi service can become compliant without unnecessary obstacles.

The "cleaning up" in the taxi sector focuses on identifying and removing dormant or unauthorized operators, ensuring that only licensed, professional taxis serve the public. The introduction of the Public Transportation Confirmation Sticker will make it easy for residents and visitors to identify taxis that meet all requirements, providing reassurance of their legitimacy and adherence to safety standards.

Commitment to Higher Standards

These numbers clearly highlight the urgent need for more operators—especially among buses and taxis—to step forward and complete the process. The Ministry is committed to transparent enforcement and to strengthening the public transportation sector's structure and accountability. Through these improvements and the introduction of the digitally linked SXM Public Transportation Confirmation Sticker 2026, the government is taking decisive steps to clean up the sector, improve service quality, and protect the interests of compliant operators and the riding public.

When you see the confirmation sticker, you can trust that the operator is fully authorized and recognized by the government—this ongoing process is about elevating standards and moving public transportation forward for everyone.