Kotai calls for study of joint authority for airport and port

MP Viren Kotai asked government on Wednesday 4 November to examine whether Princess Juliana International Airport and Port St. Maarten could operate under a joint authority or holding structure. He raised the proposal during the continuation of Parliament's 2027 national budget debate, according to Kotai's questions to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten.

Kotai asked whether the ministry had assessed the advantages of bringing some strategic functions of the government-owned airport and port closer together. He said possible areas for cooperation could include administrative services, infrastructure planning, procurement and financial management.

He asked whether the ministry would commission an independent cost-benefit analysis on possible annual savings from a more integrated structure. Kotai said any assessment should consider safety, operations and service delivery, as well as the companies' separate assets, financing arrangements, contracts and regulatory responsibilities.

Kotai also asked whether the minister would begin discussions with the supervisory boards and management of both entities on a memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation. He proposed that discussions could be followed by a feasibility study and a phased implementation roadmap of about three years.

Kotai did not call for an immediate merger. He asked government to assess whether closer structural integration would serve Sint Maarten's long-term economic interests.