PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten says Carnival 2026 successfully boosted economic activity, cultural expression, and tourism engagement across Sint Maarten, while also reviving the Soca Rumble platform as part of a broader cultural development strategy.
Addressing the Council of Ministers Press Briefing on Wednesday, the Minister described Carnival as one of the country’s most important cultural and tourism products.
“Carnival remains one of St. Martin’s most important cultural and tourism products,” she said. “It supports small businesses, entertainers, vendors, transportation operators, production crews, hospitality workers, and many others who benefit directly and indirectly from the season.”
Within that broader Carnival experience, Soca Rumble 2026 played a major role in the country’s cultural activation strategy.
“Soca Rumble was intentionally positioned not simply as a stand-alone show, but as part of a wider Carnival product and broader cultural tourism strategy,” Heyliger-Marten explained.
The Minister publicly thanked several partners who helped execute the event, including TelEm, the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, and event promoter Fontopia.
According to the Minister:
- TelEm supported the SMS voting platform and awarded winners iPhones.
- The St. Maarten Tourism Bureau fully funded the event and introduced the “Feast and Fete” cultural activation concept.
- Fontopia managed production, staging, performers, and the overall audience experience.
Heyliger-Marten congratulated this year’s winners:
- Shiff with the song “Squat and Go Down”
- Jabz with the song “Ah Liming”
- Natanya Peterson Booth 24 for Best Dressed booth.
Both artists automatically secured a spot in Soca Rumble 2027.
The Minister also announced that all contestants will be invited to participate in development workshops aimed at strengthening local Soca talent.
“These sessions will be open to both new and existing artists free of charge as part of our continued investment into the creative industry,” she said.
The event generated approximately 1,500 ticket sales, while attendance exceeded 2,000 patrons — matching the turnout of the original Soca Rumble held in 2015.
Heyliger-Marten emphasized that the initiative was never viewed solely as a competition.
“From the beginning, we communicated that Soca Rumble was a developmental platform for local talent,” she stated.
The Minister outlined several economic benefits tied to the event, including:
- Complimentary transportation for visitors
- Support for Carnival Village vendors through a voucher system
- Compensation for participating vendors
- Support for artists, dancers, musicians, and production crews
- Investment in pyrotechnics, rehearsals, staging, and music production
The Minister also reflected on Carnival’s broader impact and called for greater shared responsibility.
“Carnival is a shared responsibility,” she said. “Government cannot carry Carnival alone.”
She urged the private sector to become more actively involved, describing Carnival support as an investment in the economy, tourism, and culture.
At the same time, Heyliger-Marten raised concerns regarding explicit music and profanity heard throughout portions of the Carnival season.
“We have children present and they are watching,” she said. “We must be mindful of the environment we create around them.”
The Minister revealed that the Ministries of ECYS, Justice, and TEATT will meet to discuss practical ways to address the issue while preserving the spirit and cultural identity of Carnival.
Heyliger-Marten also addressed the popularity of the Bacchanal Boulevard activation, noting that many residents requested it remain open permanently.
While acknowledging the strong public response, she said the area was always intended to function as a temporary activation space during special occasions.
The Minister said future plans include transforming the area into a themed “Guava Berry Boulevard” experience during the Christmas season.
“St. Maarten is energy, St. Maarten is creativity, and St. Martin has the potential to build something truly special,” she concluded.
