PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten says her ministry is actively pursuing new funding opportunities and policy reforms to strengthen agriculture, animal husbandry, and food sustainability on St. Maarten.
During the Council of Ministers press briefing, Minister Heyliger-Marten confirmed that her ministry has submitted between eight to twelve proposals for funding through European Union sustainability programs coordinated via The Hague and Brussels. Among these, several focus specifically on agricultural development and sustainability initiatives.
“We have put in at least between eight and twelve requests for anything sustainable that supports the development of the island,” Heyliger-Marten said. “One of the main ones we’re tapping into is the agricultural fund, which amounts to several million euros. Once we get confirmation, I’ll be able to announce those projects officially.”
The Minister noted that St. Maarten has long lagged in structured agricultural policy and oversight. To address this, the government is moving forward with the establishment of the Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery (ALF) Agency, an entity that will manage and regulate the sector more effectively.
“Right now, when it comes to agriculture, animal husbandry, and fishery, we have only five people between the policy and inspectorate departments,” the Minister explained. “That’s not nearly enough. The new ALF agency will create a proper structure, with qualified staff who can monitor and support farmers, fishermen, and livestock owners.”
However, the path to agricultural renewal is not without challenges. St. Maarten continues to face serious issues with wild animal infestations, including green iguanas and vervet monkeys, which have been destroying crops in several communities. Farmers have also reported repeated attacks by stray dogs on goats and sheep, resulting in severe losses for small-scale livestock operations.
Community members have raised growing concerns about the lack of clear control or a compensation program for affected farmers. As the Ministry promotes local food security and sustainability, questions remain about how the government intends to protect farmers from these threats and whether there are mechanisms in place to compensate for losses resulting from such damage.
The Minister acknowledged the need for stronger animal control measures but emphasized that a coordinated approach is required, involving multiple ministries, including TEATT, VSA (Public Health, Social Development, and Labor), and VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure).
“We are working to rebuild agriculture from the ground up,” Heyliger-Marten said. “But it will take time, resources, and cooperation across ministries to protect and sustain our farmers and livestock truly.”
When asked about earlier proposals for a floating farm in the Great Salt Pond — an idea introduced by Dutch counterparts and inspired by a similar initiative in Rotterdam — the Minister said the concept had been explored but was ultimately deemed financially unfeasible for now.
“We did consider the floating farm model, both for production and agri-tourism,” she said. “It was a creative idea and could one day work here with investors, but at this point it’s not financially sustainable.”
Minister Heyliger-Marten reiterated her commitment to promoting food sustainability and agricultural resilience, noting that ongoing initiatives are key to reducing import dependency and revitalizing rural livelihoods on the island.
“Agriculture is not just about crops or livestock,” she said. “It’s about food security, sustainability, and national resilience. We are determined to build the structures that make this possible.”
