COCI Hosts Successful Town Hall Meeting

SINT MAARTEN (BELAIR) - The St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry (COCI) successfully hosted its first Town Hall Meeting for 2026 on Tuesday, 31 March at the Belair Community Center, bringing together members of the business community and key stakeholders to share updates on ongoing projects and initiatives for the businesses and community at large.

During the session, COCI President Ms. Tamara Leonard highlighted key Board initiatives, including “Start Smart St. Maarten,” a pilot project designed to support unregistered entrepreneurs through training and development toward formal business registration.

Implemented in collaboration with government and key partners, the initiative aims to strengthen the business sector and promote economic resilience. Ms. Leonard noted that the project is focused on creating opportunities through structure and building a more inclusive and sustainable business environment.

Attendees also received updates from the Minister of TEATT, Honorable Grisha Heyliger-Marten, and the Minister of Finance, Honorable Marinka Gumbs, on current initiatives and what the business community can expect in the near future.

Additionally, there were presentations from Ms. Shadira Gysbertha, Police Commissioner, on crime prevention collaboration with COCI, and Mr. Emauro Scoop, Acting Head of the Tax Office, on the importance of business compliance.

A key highlight of the Town Hall was a panel discussion on the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) framework. The panelist included Mr. Jude Houston – COCI Director, Mrs. Marlene Mingo from Notary Mingo who provided an insight into notarial processes and procedures in handling UBO requirements during incorporation, Ms. Caroline van Hees of HBN Law who provided an overview of the UBO framework and the Minister of Justice Honorable Natalie Tackling, who gave the audience an insight into the implications for St. Maarten should the country fail to meet international compliance requirements.

COCI expressed sincere gratitude to all speakers, presenters, and panelists, with a special thank you to the Minister of Justice, Honorable Minister Tackling, for accepting to join the panel discussion on very short notice, given the absence of the representative from the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Reflecting on the event, Ms. Leonard emphasized that the Town Hall meeting represents COCI’s commitment to meaningful engagement, thereby creating a space not only to inform, but also to listen, collaborate, and work together toward a stronger and more resilient Sint Maarten.

COCI also thanks the wider community for its strong participation, which contributed to the success of the event.