Anguilla charter talks prompt Heyliger-Marten to revisit maritime arrangements closer to home

GREAT BAY--What began as an effort to clarify proposed charter boat regulations in Anguilla has prompted Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten to take a closer look at St. Maarten's own maritime arrangements, including the conditions under which operators from neighbouring jurisdictions conduct business in local waters.

The Minister described the discussions as eye-opening, indicating that while the immediate concerns of St. Maarten's charter boat industry have largely been resolved, the exchange left a lasting impression about the need for greater balance, clearer rules and a review of the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two islands.

The discussions offered clarity on Anguilla's proposed legislation, but also brought into focus how the two jurisdictions approach maritime access, commercial operations and their respective regulatory obligations. For Heyliger-Marten, the experience reinforced the importance of ensuring that regional cooperation operates on fair and mutually understood terms, with St. Maarten giving equal consideration to the standards and requirements applied within its own maritime sector.

"This experience has opened my eyes to the fact that while we are advocating for our charter operators to be treated fairly in neighbouring jurisdictions, we must also look at what we are doing here at home," the Minister stated.

Following concerns brought to her attention by representatives of St. Maarten's maritime industry, Heyliger-Marten personally travelled to Anguilla, at her own expense, to engage directly with the relevant authorities and seek clarity on the proposed legislation.

The Minister explained that the discussions revealed that the initial concerns surrounding the proposed legislation were largely the result of miscommunication and misunderstanding.

"What initially appeared to be a serious threat to our charter boat industry turned out to be largely a false alarm," she explained.

The proposed legislation is not intended to prevent St. Maarten-based charter operators from accessing Anguilla. They will be able to continue operating, subject to the conditions and regulations established by the Anguillian authorities, with the legislation expected to be passed by mid-December 2026.

The Minister emphasized that the discussions provided an important opportunity to address concerns directly rather than allow uncertainty to affect the industry.

"I felt it was important to personally engage with the authorities in Anguilla rather than allow uncertainty and speculation to continue affecting our charter boat operators. Our maritime industry is an important part of our tourism product and our economy, and I believe that when challenges arise between neighbouring islands, dialogue must always be our first approach," she stated.

Existing MOU to be revisited

Although the immediate concerns were clarified, Heyliger-Marten indicated that the discussions highlighted the need to revisit the existing MOU governing maritime cooperation between St. Maarten and Anguilla.

The review will provide an opportunity to examine whether existing arrangements adequately reflect the realities of both maritime sectors, including the expectations and obligations governing commercial activities between the islands.

"One of the lessons coming out of this situation is that we need clearer communication and a better understanding of the arrangements governing maritime activities between our islands," the Minister stated.

"The existing MOU needs to be revisited to ensure that it reflects the current realities of our maritime sectors, provides clarity for operators and establishes a stronger foundation for cooperation moving forward."

Heyliger-Marten emphasized that St. Maarten and Anguilla share longstanding economic, cultural and tourism ties, with maritime transportation playing an important role in maintaining those relationships. She stressed that regional cooperation must be founded on mutual respect, clear expectations and fair opportunities for operators on both sides.

St. Maarten must also examine its own regulations

While welcoming the clarification from Anguilla, the Minister acknowledged that the discussions highlighted areas where St. Maarten must strengthen its maritime regulatory framework and give renewed attention to how existing requirements are applied.

Among the areas requiring examination are speed restrictions, no-wake zones, anchoring practices, maritime safety, environmental protection, commercial vessel requirements and enforcement mechanisms.

"We cannot demand that other jurisdictions respect our maritime industry while failing to ensure that our own rules are clear, respected and properly enforced," she stated.

"We must take a serious look at our maritime legislation, identify where improvements are necessary and ensure that we have the proper enforcement mechanisms in place."

The Minister emphasized that responsible operators should not be disadvantaged by those who disregard regulations, whether operating locally or in neighbouring jurisdictions.

"Responsible operators should not be placed at a disadvantage because others choose to disregard the rules."

She also stressed that St. Maarten-based charter operators have a responsibility to respect the laws and regulations of the neighbouring jurisdictions in which they operate, including Anguilla, French Saint-Martin and St. Barthélemy.

Professionalism, safety and mutual respect, she emphasized, must work both ways.

Moving toward balanced regional cooperation

Heyliger-Marten reaffirmed her commitment to continued dialogue with neighbouring authorities and closer collaboration with St. Maarten's maritime stakeholders.

She emphasized that the objective is not only to address the immediate concerns surrounding Anguilla's proposed legislation, but also to establish a more structured and sustainable approach to regional maritime cooperation.

"I see this experience as an opportunity for positive change. What started as a concern for our charter boat operators has brought to light the need for better communication, clearer agreements and stronger regulation and enforcement within our own maritime sector."

The Minister noted that St. Maarten's maritime industry has considerable potential, but that protecting its interests requires a regulatory environment capable of supporting fair competition, responsible operations and meaningful cooperation with neighbouring territories.

"Our maritime industry has tremendous potential, but with that potential comes responsibility," she stated.

"Regional cooperation must be built on mutual respect, clear rules and fair opportunities for everyone. That is the direction I intend to continue working toward."

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