Kotai seeks answers on Setai permits and possible court action

MP Viren Kotai asked VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs on Wednesday 4 November whether the developers of The Setai St. Maarten project at Indigo Bay have started legal proceedings against government over development permit applications. Kotai raised the questions during the continuation of Parliament's 2027 national budget debate.

Kotai asked for an overview of outstanding applications, their submission dates, legal decision deadlines and reasons decisions have not been issued. He also asked whether any applications had passed the statutory decision period.

The MP asked whether VROMI's technical departments and advisory bodies had completed their assessments, what recommendations they gave and why final decisions had not been issued where assessments were complete. He also asked whether each application had been assessed independently and whether the developer had received written decisions setting out the legal basis for government's position.

Kotai asked what steps the ministry intends to take to resolve the permitting matters and whether delays could expose government to legal or financial liability. His questions did not establish that a court case had been filed or that government had acted unlawfully.