Minister Heyliger-Marten: “On Nov. 13, we will see who really has to resign”

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten has announced that she will present a full breakdown of the 2023–2024 public transportation license issuances during a TEATT Committee meeting in Parliament on Thursday, November 13 at 10:00 AM.

The Minister said the presentation will reveal the true extent of the administrative and political interference that led to an oversaturated taxi sector, leaving long-time operators struggling to make a living.

“Come November 13, 10:00 AM, live in Parliament, we will see who really has to resign,” Heyliger-Marten said. “That meeting will show the cause and effect of what the 2023–2024 issuance of licenses has done to this country. Every day, taxi drivers who have been operating for more than a decade are begging me to find them work because they can’t compete in an oversaturated market. This is the reality we’re facing.”

The Minister was responding to questions about the Integrity Chamber’s investigation into the issuance of taxi and bus licenses in 2023. That report, released in July 2025, found evidence of administrative misconduct, interference, and systemic integrity failures within the Ministry during that period. According to the Chamber, the process had been circumvented by former Minister Arthur Lambriex and his cabinet, who directly involved themselves in granting licenses just months before the January 2024 elections.

A separate internal audit by the Government Accountants Bureau (SOAB) confirmed the findings, documenting serious governance breaches, policy violations, and procedural lapses. The audit revealed that several licenses were approved and issued without the knowledge of the Secretary-General, the Head of the Department of Economic Licenses, or the Ministry’s management team—a clear breach of internal protocol and legislation.

Minister Heyliger-Marten clarified that while both the Integrity Chamber and SOAB reports are public and available to Parliament and the Prosecutor’s Office, the matter does not fall within her authority to initiate or direct legal action.

“It is up to the Prosecutor to decide whether to act on these reports,” she stated. “The reports are in the public domain and also with Parliament. I cannot say what action the Prosecutor has taken, but what I can do is ensure the facts are presented transparently to the people of St. Maarten.”

Heyliger-Marten reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to accountability, noting that the upcoming parliamentary session will provide the public with a clear picture of how and why the sector became destabilized.

“This is not about politics; it’s about accountability,” she said. “We owe the people of St. Maarten clarity on what happened, how it happened, and how we move forward to restore order and fairness in the transportation sector.”

The Minister will also use the November 13 session to outline a corrective path aimed at balancing the industry, protecting existing operators, and ensuring that future licensing is conducted transparently and within the boundaries of law.

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