Dear Editor, The recent proposal by the Government of Sint Maarten to double the room tax from 5% to 10% is more than just bad math; it is a symptom of a government that refuses to look where the real money is. As a practitioner who has navigated our island’s financial maze for over three decades, I see this not as a solution for a cash-strapped budget, but as a desperate maneuver by a ship sailing without a rudder. The “Financial Ghost” Economy: The government claims it needs revenue, yet it ignores the massive fiscal leakage occurring right under its…
Author: The Publisher
PHILIPSBURG — Questions surrounding the long-awaited 2025 budget amendments dominated Monday’s continuation of Parliament’s Central Committee meeting, with National Alliance (NA) Members of Parliament Egbert Doran and Ardwell Irion using the discussion on tax reform to raise broader concerns about government finances, legislative planning and fiscal transparency. MP Doran opened the round of questioning by pressing Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs for clarity on when Parliament can expect the revised 2025 budget. Doran noted that legislators require updated financial information to properly evaluate new tax measures and to fulfill their oversight responsibilities. He stressed that as the country moves further into 2026,…
From our St. Barths Correspondent Xavier Lédée is serving as President of the Collectivité territoriale of Saint-Barthélemy since March 2022, marking a generational shift in the island’s political leadership. He succeeded Bruno Magras, who had dominated local politics for decades, ushering in a new chapter for the French overseas collectivity. Born in 1980, in Saint-Barthélemy, Lédée left the island at age 14 to finish his high school education in France. He returned to St. Barth and went to Boston for half a year to study English, then returned to Paris for his MBA in accounting. Lédée spent part of his…
PHILIPSBURG — The Committee of Petitions of Parliament on Friday approved a draft proposal to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee focused on sustainable and affordable electricity and water, marking a significant step in addressing long-standing public concerns surrounding utility company GEBE N.V. The meeting, held on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m., centered on a proposal to create a topical ad hoc committee that would allow Parliament to more deeply examine GEBE-related issues from a parliamentary oversight perspective. Committee Chair MP Sarah Wescot-Williams (Democratic Party, DP) explained that the initiative originated at the end of the 2024–2025 parliamentary year, when…
~ Motion of Disapproval Demands Urgent Action on Prolonged Fire and Ambulance Go-Slow ~ PHILIPSBURG — Parliamentary deliberations on the escalating crisis involving fire and ambulance personnel ended abruptly on Thursday when Members of Parliament walked out of the House, citing frustration over the lack of progress and the continued absence of firm commitments from government. Firefighters and ambulance workers observing the meeting from the public tribune followed suit, leaving the chamber in a visible show of solidarity. The meeting was requested by National Alliance (NA) MPs Egbert Doran, Ardwell Irion and Darryl York, United People’s (UP) party MPs Omar…
BARBUDA — Operating hours at Barbuda International Airport are set to be extended into the evening following Cabinet approval for the installation of new apron lighting, a development government officials say will significantly improve access to the sister island and support its evolving tourism strategy. Director General of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, announced during the weekly Cabinet briefing that the apron lighting project is expected to begin shortly. Once completed, the new lighting will allow aircraft to operate at the airport until approximately 9:30 p.m., replacing the current limitation that restricts flights to daylight…
PHILIPSBURG — Several Members of Parliament used the notification round at the start of a Central Committee meeting on Wednesday to sharply question a recent press release by Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) Patrice Gumbs, in which he warned that a go-slow action by the Fire Department is significantly delaying the processing of building permits. The Central Committee meeting, held with Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, was convened to address urgent unresolved matters affecting justice workers. However, MPs seized the opportunity to respond to the VROMI minister’s public statement, which said the suspension of fire…
PHILIPSBURG — Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, representing the Soualiga Action Movement (SAM party), told Parliament on Wednesday that the Government of St. Maarten remains legally responsible for compensating justice workers injured or killed in the line of duty, regardless of the current absence of a comprehensive insurance policy. Responding to questions during a Central Committee meeting, Tackling addressed long-standing concerns from unions and Members of Parliament regarding insurance coverage, payroll delays, and communication between the Ministry of Justice and labor representatives. Legal duty of care The minister emphasized that compensation rights for police officers are grounded in law, not…
Dear Editor, Have you traveled out of SXM and returned to witness what it is like to be a tourist on our beautiful island? How about visiting some of our local hotels? How was your experience? Recently I had the opportunity to travel out of our island and because I haven’t traveled for a long time, I didn’t know what to expect. I had no standards and was just happy to be able to travel and take the much-needed break but on arriving at other airports and seeing how very friendly some of their staff were despite being an extremely…
During her interview, United Nations Resident Coordinator Joanna Kazana acknowledged that agriculture and food security are increasingly important issues for small island territories such as Sint Maarten, but clarified that the United Nations is not currently implementing an active agriculture programme on the island. Kazana described food security as closely linked to public health, economic diversification, and resilience, noting that the quality of food consumed by the population has long-term impacts on wellbeing. She also highlighted the potential benefits of local food production, including empowering farmers and reducing dependency on imports. At the same time, she cautioned that agriculture in…
