GREAT BAY--Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), Patrice Gumbs, has announced that approximately 17 hectares of land commonly referred to as Rainforest have been returned to the Government of St. Maarten, opening the way for the establishment of the country’s first terrestrial park.
Speaking during the Council of Ministers briefing on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Gumbs disclosed that he finalized the return of the land approximately two months ago, bringing four parcels totaling 172,626 square meters back under government control.
The properties are located in Cul-de-Sac, within the areas locally known as Golden Rock and Industry. According to the Minister, the land had previously been tied up under a private long-lease arrangement, limiting government's ability to determine its future use.
"What this means practically is that land that was previously tied up under a private long lease is now back in the hands of country St. Martin," Gumbs said.
The return gives government the opportunity to incorporate the property into its long-term spatial planning and environmental protection policies, with the Minister identifying the establishment of a terrestrial park as the principal objective.
Gumbs explained that the location was identified in a 2014 UNESCO study on drainage as one of the most suitable areas for managing drainage. That finding is now being incorporated into government's plans for protecting the property.
The proposed designation would mark a significant development in St. Maarten's approach to land conservation by establishing its first terrestrial park, while recognizing the importance of preserving areas that serve environmental and drainage-management functions.
The Minister indicated that the next phase will involve consultations with relevant stakeholders to determine an appropriate management structure and establish how the land can be protected and maintained over the long term.
"I will be convening a meeting with all stakeholders to decide on the best way forward in terms of management and how we can protect and better manage the land going forward," Gumbs stated.
The planned park designation is also expected to form part of a broader environmental protection ordinance currently being developed. Gumbs said the relevant information and proposed designation will be incorporated once the first draft of that ordinance has been received.
The announcement comes as the Ministry of VROMI is undertaking a renewed national zoning initiative aimed at establishing clearer rules for land use and development across St. Maarten.
Gumbs has emphasized that zoning should provide greater legal certainty for property owners, developers and communities while ensuring that development is supported by adequate infrastructure and sound long-term planning.
The return of the Rainforest parcels provides government with an opportunity to apply those planning principles to a substantial area of land, with environmental protection identified as the priority.
The Minister did not announce a timetable for the formal park designation or identify a proposed managing organization. Those matters are expected to be addressed as stakeholder consultations and work on the protection ordinance progress.
