Economic Licenses backlog reduced from over 400 pending matters to approx. 60

GREAT BAY--Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten says the ongoing restructuring and modernization of the Department of Economic Licenses, better known as DEL, is already producing measurable results, with the department reducing its backlog from more than 400 pending applications and matters to approximately 60 in less than one year.

Minister Heyliger-Marten said the progress follows the decision taken in 2025 to temporarily restructure DEL’s operations after years of operational challenges, outdated manual systems, a growing backlog and increasing frustration from the business community.

“Many of you will recall that during the summer of 2025, I stated publicly that serious intervention was needed at DEL,” the Minister said. “The department was facing longstanding operational challenges, a growing backlog, outdated manual systems and increasing frustration from the business community.”

At the time, DEL had more than 400 pending applications and matters. The Minister said the reality was clear: the system was no longer sustainable. Applicants were waiting far too long, staff were overwhelmed, and the department remained heavily dependent on manual, in-person processing.

As a result, the Ministry made the decision in 2025 to temporarily restructure DEL’s operations to reorganize internal workflows, review and process pending files, improve efficiency, and lay the foundation for a more modern and digital system.

Minister Heyliger-Marten said that from the outset, she made it clear that the future of DEL had to be digital.

“Business owners should not have to close their doors or take time away from running their companies simply to submit paperwork or check on the status of an application,” she said.

Following those restructuring efforts, the Ministry launched the pilot phase of DEL’s online business license submission portal, marking the beginning of the department’s digital transformation. The goal, the Minister said, has always been to create a system that is more efficient, more accessible, and better equipped to serve the business community in a faster and more professional manner.

The Minister announced that DEL is now entering the next phase of that transition. The pilot phase of the online portal has been completed, and the current platform closed on May 9, 2026.

To allow staff to focus on intensive processing and continue reducing pending matters, DEL will temporarily limit walk-in services from May 11 through May 22, 2026. During this period, the public may collect processed licenses daily between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

DEL is scheduled to fully reopen on May 25, 2026, with updated procedures as the modernization process continues.

“What this means for the business community is a simpler, faster and more predictable process for obtaining the licenses they need to operate,” Minister Heyliger-Marten said.

She said the reduction of the backlog from more than 400 pending matters to approximately 60 is significant progress for the department and for the business community.

“It means hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs have received the approvals they were waiting for,” the Minister said. “It means staff are gaining control of a system that had become unmanageable. And it demonstrates that the department is moving in the right direction.”

Minister Heyliger-Marten also commended the staff of DEL for their work throughout the transition, noting that change of this magnitude is never easy, but is necessary if government is serious about improving service delivery.

“I want to commend the staff of DEL for their hard work throughout this transition,” she said. “Change of this magnitude is never easy, but it is necessary if we are serious about improving service delivery and building a government that functions more efficiently for the people and business community of St. Maarten.”

The Minister said the Ministry remains fully committed to continuing the modernization of DEL, reducing unnecessary bureaucracy, and creating a licensing system that is more streamlined, transparent, digital and service-oriented.

‍