MP Kotai proposes study into unified Air and Seaport Authority, for PJIA and Port St. Maarten

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Viren Kotai has called on government to examine the feasibility of establishing a unified Air and Seaport Authority that would bring Port St. Maarten and Princess Juliana International Airport under a more coordinated management and investment structure, potentially reducing operating costs, improving financial performance and strengthening St. Maarten's position as a regional transportation and tourism hub.

During Wednesday's continuation of the 2027 national budget debate, Kotai questioned Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication Grisha Heyliger-Marten about whether government has ever formally assessed the potential advantages of combining certain operations and strategic functions of the country's two principal economic gateways.

The MP emphasized that both entities are government-owned and play central roles in the tourism economy, yet continue to operate largely independently despite opportunities for closer cooperation.

He questioned whether shared services, coordinated infrastructure development and joint financial planning could provide greater value to the country while maintaining the separate operational requirements of the airport and seaport.

Among the areas identified for possible consolidation or cooperation were administrative services, infrastructure planning, procurement, financial management and other functions where economies of scale could be achieved.

Kotai asked whether the ministry would commission an independent cost-benefit analysis to determine the potential annual savings from a more integrated structure without compromising safety, operational efficiency or service delivery.

Coordinated Investment and Revenue Generation

Beyond possible savings, Kotai questioned whether a unified structure could strengthen the financial position of both entities by improving coordination of major investments and increasing their collective negotiating capacity.

He suggested that a common financial and investment strategy could potentially improve profitability and increase the long-term value generated for St. Maarten.

The MP also asked whether government would examine the feasibility of a unified holding structure, recognizing that the airport and port have separate assets, financing arrangements, contractual obligations and regulatory responsibilities.

He stressed the importance of conducting financial and legal due diligence before considering any structural changes.

Such an assessment, he suggested, should determine whether closer integration could be achieved while protecting existing assets, respecting lender agreements and preserving the financial stability of both companies.

Building on Existing Cooperation

The proposal comes after Port St. Maarten and Princess Juliana International Airport announced closer strategic cooperation in December 2025, following a joint meeting between their management teams.

That initiative identified areas for cooperation, including long-term infrastructure planning, commercial initiatives and coordinated development of St. Maarten's transportation gateways.

Kotai's questions would take that cooperation further by examining whether a formal joint authority or holding structure could offer additional economic and financial benefits.

He asked whether the Minister of TEATT would be prepared to initiate discussions with the supervisory boards and management of both entities toward establishing a formal memorandum of understanding for strategic cooperation.

The MP proposed that such discussions could be followed by an independent feasibility study and a phased implementation roadmap covering approximately three years.

He did not call for an immediate merger but requested an assessment of whether closer structural integration would be in the country's long-term economic interest.

The central question raised by Kotai was whether St. Maarten could obtain greater financial and operational value from its two primary gateways by moving beyond separate institutional planning toward a coordinated national strategy for air and sea transportation.

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