Economic Affairs Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten has conducted a walkthrough of the Philipsburg Boardwalk to assess operations during one of the island's busiest cruise days.
Accompanied by the Inspectorate of Economic and Transport Affairs, or IETA, the Minister reviewed conditions along the Boardwalk and beachfront while two cruise ships were in port, providing an opportunity to observe the area under heavy visitor traffic.
The inspection focused on beach vending operations, public sanitation, unauthorized solicitation, and the overall visitor experience. The Minister also met with business owners to discuss concerns about regulations, compliance, and the management of public spaces.
Among the issues identified were inconsistent identification of licensed beach vendors, litter despite the availability of public waste bins, and continued unauthorized solicitation of visitors.
Minister Heyliger-Marten said seeing the situation firsthand provided valuable insight and reinforced the need for stronger coordination between government agencies.
The Ministry says the findings will help guide improvements as it works with the National Recovery Program Bureau and the World Bank to develop a modern Beach and Vending Policy aimed at improving compliance, supporting legitimate businesses, and enhancing the visitor experience in Philipsburg.