By MP Ardwell Irion As your representative in Parliament, let’s take a deeper look at a critical economic issue facing our island: the proposed 10% dividend withholding tax, slated for implementation on January 1, 2026. While the stated intention might be to broaden our tax base, a closer examination reveals that this measure, as it stands, poses significant risks to our fragile economy, particularly for our local businesses and our long-term competitiveness. We are a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), inherently vulnerable due to our small size, and reliance on a narrow economic base, predominantly tourism. Our limited capital markets…
Author: The Publisher
~ Various incidents seem to indicate troubling times ahead ~ By Tom Clifford in Beijing Iran attacked for the second time in 45 years by a neighboring country’s armed forces. In September 1980, just after Eid, Saddam launched an invasion by the Iraqi army hoping to take advantage of Iran’s lack of spare parts and crucial components after the fall of the Shah. Eight years later, the guns fell silent. Now attack and defense missiles slash the night sky above Teheran and Tel Aviv. Israel is trying to capitalize on what it perceived as Iran’s weakness with Hamas and Hezbollah…
SIMPSON BAY, SINT MAARTEN – [June 2025] – Commodore Suites Boutique Hotel is proud to unveil a dynamic art showcase featuring the works of local artist Tess Verheij, bringing an exciting splash of color and creativity to its lobby and guest rooms this summer. Originally from the Netherlands, Verheij has called Sint Maarten home since 2009. With a passion for painting and teaching art, she has become a vibrant part of the island’s creative community. Over the past four years, her signature style has emerged through the use of rainbow-inspired color palettes and unique mediums such as Vitrail (glass paint),…
By Hilbert Haar I always thought that bookkeeping was rather simple. You spend money, you book it as expenditures. You receive money, you book it as income or revenue. The difference between expenditures and revenue is one of two things: a surplus or a deficit. If you want a deficit to look like a surplus you would have to cook the books. St. Maarten became an autonomous country within the Dutch kingdom on October 10, 2010. It is maybe good to remember that on that occasion the Netherlands took care of the mountain of debts the now former Netherlands Antilles…
PHILIPSBURG –– St. Maarten has submitted its fourth execution report for 2024 to financial supervisor Cft, reporting a surplus for the year of 700,000 Caribbean guilders ($391.000). While the Cft considers this a positive sign, it does not entirely trust the numbers and it has asked Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs to provide additional information. In a letter dated June 4, Cft president Lidewijde Ongering states that St. Maarten has submitted its fourth quarter report on May 21, three months after the legal deadline of February 11, 2025. Another problem is that explanations are insufficient or completely lacking. Ongering furthermore mentions…
PHILIPSBURG –– The Dutch government makes 200 million euro ($232 million) available for the slavery fund. Half of this money is earmarked for projects that contribute to awareness, healing and tackling the consequences suffered by the descendants of slaves. The other half is for policy impulses; government organizations can submit proposals for this part of the fund. The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are scheduled to submit their action list for this purpose om July 1, the date slavery was abolished in 1863. The conditions to qualify for subsidies will be announced on the same date. The $116 million available…
PHILIPSBURG –– The Caribbean parts of the Kingdom are vulnerable for undermining criminality according to a report entitled “Report (about) approach organized, undermining criminality” that outgoing Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel sent to the Dutch Parliament this week. Dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl reported about this issue. “An important point of attention remains cooperation within the kingdom. Because of their geographical location the Caribbean islands of the kingdom are vulnerable for undermining criminality. The international waters around the islands are being abused for the transport of cocaine that is partially going to the Dutch market,” the report states. To protect the…
PHILIPSBURG — Hensley Plantijn is back as the Secretary-General at the Ministry of General Affairs. Prime Minister Luc Mercelina reinstated him per June 1. With the reinstatement, Mercelina respects the appeal court for civil servants affairs that ruled Plantijn’s dismissal per January 1, 2023, as unlawful. “Mr. Plantijn will be concluding several assignments in my cabinet and he will therefore be back in his office on June 9,” Mercelina wrote in a brief letter to all managers within the ministry of general affairs, dated June 3. The prime minister thanked Angelique Gumbs for her efforts as the stand-in for Plantijn…
PHILIPSBURG — The fall of the Dutch government may have dire consequences for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, in particular for Curacao and St. Maarten. This is especially true for a decision about the refinancing of loans both countries are unable to repay. Outgoing Minister Judith Uitermark (NSC), answering question in writing from several parliamentarians after the debate about the budget for kingdom relations, left no doubt about who is responsible for the loans: the governments of Curacao and St. Maarten. Curacao has to repay loans to the tune of €139.7 million ($159.3 million), while St. Maarten is on…
By Tom Clifford in Beijing Like viewers the world over, the Chinese are relishing the spat between the world’s richest man and the world’s most powerful. They know a thing or two here about people suddenly falling out of favor. But they also know that the really important news does not involve adults exchanging electronic barbs and acting like over-privileged children. The shop owner was smiling, almost ebullient, as I ordered my lunchtime noodles. “He’s coming to China.” Behind me, the queuing restaurant customers murmured in consent. They knew what was important. “He” was President Donald Trump. The view from Beijing is simple: Trump…
