Court Rules Mullet Bay Beach is public, Sun Resorts owns land behind shoreline

The Court of First Instance has ruled that Mullet Bay Beach remains public, rejecting Sun Resorts Limited's claim that the beach passed into private ownership via historic land transfers. The court, however, also determined that the land immediately behind the beach belongs to Sun Resorts. The ruling found that the Government of St. Maarten acted unlawfully by renting out or allowing third parties to use parts of this private property. This decision clarifies the ownership status of the beach and adjacent land, impacting the rights of the private entity and the actions of the St. Maarten government.