SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The St. Maarten Association for Development Environment (SMADE) is pleased to announce its newly elected Board and its strategic priorities for 2026, with a strong commitment to increasing the participation of local companies and professionals in major public and private development projects on St. Maarten.
The association's leadership and priorities were introduced following a recent General Meeting. 2026 SMADE Board • Brian Mingo – Chairman • Yuri Daal – Secretary • Sjors Ooteman – Treasurer • Alexander Carchidi – Board Member • Diego Martinez Pantin – Board Member • Michiel Witteveen – Board Member
The Board is committed to building a stronger, more competitive local construction and development sector by promoting collaboration, professionalism, certification, and industry standards, while ensuring that qualified local businesses have greater opportunities to participate in the country's continued development.
These priorities are based on feedback received directly from SMADE members. As part of its 2026 agenda, SMADE will begin a series of meetings with key stakeholders, including: • The National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB) to discuss increasing local participation in recovery and development projects. • The banking sector to improve access to financing for contractors, developers, and equipment investments. • The insurance industry to strengthen collaboration and improve insurance solutions that support local contractors and construction professionals.
The SMADE Board stated: "St. Maarten possesses the knowledge, experience, and entrepreneurial spirit to undertake a much greater role in the country's development. Our objective is to ensure that qualified local companies have meaningful opportunities to participate in major projects while maintaining the highest standards of quality, professionalism, and safety.
“By working closely with the NRPB, financial institutions, insurance providers, government, and the private sector, we can build a stronger local construction industry that creates jobs, retains expertise on the island, and contributes to sustainable economic growth."
The Board looks forward to engaging with both the public and private sectors over the coming months and welcomes constructive dialogue with all stakeholders committed to the future development of St. Maarten.
For more information, membership, or partnership opportunities, please contact: St. Maarten Association for Development Environment (SMADE) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
