IGY Marinas has announced a major leadership move with the promotion of Brian Deher, a proud Sint Maartener, to Executive Vice President & Head of Global Marina Operations. In this new role, Deher will oversee IGY’s extensive network of marinas spanning 24 destinations across 14 countries and four continents.
With more than 30 years in the marine industry—and 20 of those spent rising through IGY’s leadership ranks—Deher has built a strong track record in operational excellence. Most recently serving as Vice President of Operations for the Americas, he managed marinas in the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America. Under his guidance, several IGY properties earned top international accolades, including Platinum accreditation for Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas and 5-Gold Anchor distinctions for marinas in St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Cabo San Lucas.
IGY CEO Steven English praised Deher’s deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships, and commitment to the company’s mission, calling him uniquely equipped to lead global operations into the future.
Beyond his corporate achievements, Deher is a respected figure in the marine sector regionally. He has served multiple terms with the St. Maarten Marine Trades Association, contributed at the Caribbean regional level, and supported various civic and government advisory boards.
Born in St. Maarten and educated abroad—including earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from The George Washington University—Deher returned to the Caribbean in 1997 to begin his now decades-long maritime career.
IGY congratulates him on this milestone and looks forward to his continued leadership as the company strengthens its global marina presence.
SEGUE 2 (Second pre-commercial):
“From outdated 1935 legislation to high-profile court cases and controversial developments, the call for transparency is growing louder. And now, Parliament wants answers. Our full breakdown of the building permit audit is coming up next.”
[Break][Commercial]
FEATURED:
❓ FEATURED STORY TITLE (Question Form)
“Can Sint Maarten Fix a Broken Building Permit System Before Public Trust Collapses?”
🎙️ FEATURED STORY MONOLOGUE (3–4 minutes)
(Approx. 620 words • Serious, investigative, clear, newsroom tone)
Tonight, we turn our attention to an issue that touches every neighborhood, every business, and every family dreaming of building a home in Sint Maarten: our building permit system—a system now facing its most intense scrutiny in years after a damning new performance audit by the General Audit Chamber.
Member of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has officially demanded a ministerial response to that audit, and the details paint a troubling picture. According to the report, the framework governing building permits is outdated, inconsistent, vulnerable to undue influence, and in some cases, operating without written procedures or adequate transparency. The legislation that forms the backbone of the system—the Building and Housing Ordinance—dates back to 1935. And while modern construction has evolved in every imaginable way, the laws regulating it have not kept pace.
The audit highlights several major concerns. First, inconsistent application of policy—meaning similar projects can receive very different decisions depending on who is reviewing them, or when the application was submitted. Second, a lack of clear documentation and traceable communication, with some exchanges reportedly happening through informal channels rather than formal, logged systems. Third, a widespread perception of integrity risks, which the report attributes to the absence of written procedures, minimal oversight, and instances where ministerial discretion appears to override expert recommendations.
MP Wescot-Williams has now asked the Minister of VROMI for three things: a formal response to the audit’s findings, an implementation plan for the recommended reforms, and a timeline for updates such as automation, legislative modernization, zoning plans, and improvements to transparency safeguards. Her message is clear: without major changes, public trust will continue to erode, and the island’s development will remain vulnerable to irregularities.
But the pressure did not begin with this audit. For years, Sint Maarten’s building permit system has been in the spotlight—sometimes for operational bottlenecks, sometimes for major controversies.
Take the Vie L’Ven development in Cay Bay, a project that environmental groups argued moved forward without a complete environmental assessment, raising alarms about coral reef damage. Or the ongoing disputes in Beacon Hill, where a high-rise commercial building permit was issued—revoked—then reissued in a residential-only zone, sparking court battles and highlighting the complexities of ministerial authority.
Beyond individual cases, the broader pattern is hard to ignore. Older reports, even as far back as 2021, called for modernization. Applicants have long expressed frustration with paper-based processes, long backlogs, and no public way to track applications. And court rulings in recent years—such as one declaring a major development permit unlawful due to conditional approvals—underscore the consequences when laws and procedures fail to align.
Meanwhile, the Permits Department itself has struggled with capacity. Just this year, VROMI temporarily halted new permit submissions to manage backlogs and implement internal improvements. The Ministry also issued a stop order in Over the Bank after construction began without required permits, pointing to enforcement challenges on the ground.
Despite the challenges, the audit provides a roadmap forward: automation, zoning implementation, updated legislation, and stronger integrity measures. These are not new ideas—they are long-standing recommendations finally coming to a head.
And now, Parliament wants answers. The question facing the Minister, and the country, is whether this is finally the moment when the system will be rebuilt—not just patched, not just adjusted, but modernized in a way that protects fairness, transparency, and sustainable development.
Because at the end of the day, building permits aren’t just paperwork. They determine how our island looks, how our neighborhoods feel, how safe our buildings are, and how confidently investors and families can plan for the future.
Fixing the system isn’t simply good governance—it’s essential to shaping the Sint Maarten we want to live in.
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