PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams has formally submitted questions to the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI), seeking clarity on the recently announced Letter of Intent signed between the Ministry of VROMI and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), aimed at improving national mobility in Sint Maarten.

While welcoming initiatives intended to address the country’s longstanding traffic congestion, road safety concerns, and commuting delays, MP Wescot-Williams emphasized the need for clear, transparent, and practical information on what the signing of this Letter of Intent actually entails.

“Given the serious impact that traffic congestion and mobility challenges continue to have on productivity, tourism, small businesses, and quality of life, it is important that Parliament and the public clearly understand what this agreement represents and what outcomes can realistically be expected,” Wescot-Williams stated.

In her correspondence, the Member of Parliament requested clarification on several key issues, including:

• Whether the signing of the Letter of Intent marks the start of a new phase of work or formalizes assessments or engagements already undertaken with UNOPS or other partners;
• The scope and anticipated timeline of the cooperation, including milestones, studies, or pilot interventions;
• The specific deliverables expected under the collaboration, such as traffic or mobility studies, road safety recommendations, policy frameworks, or infrastructure proposals; and
• How the Ministry intends to ensure transparency and stakeholder engagement, including opportunities for Parliament, affected communities, and the business sector to review and provide input on findings and recommendations.

MP Wescot-Williams underscored that timely and detailed information is essential for Parliament to properly fulfill its oversight role and to help manage public expectations regarding both the short- and medium-term impact of the initiative.

“I look forward to the Minister’s response and to continued constructive dialogue on improving mobility and the overall quality of life for the people of Sint Maarten,” she concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is investigating a serious traffic accident that occurred on Friday, February 6, 2026, at approximately 9:00 PM on the A.J.C. Brouwers Road.

A vehicle traveling from Arlet Peters Road in the direction of Welgelegen Road was involved in an accident with a pedestrian who was crossing the road.

As a result of the accident, the pedestrian involved sustained serious injuries to his upper body and head.

The victim was later transported by ambulance to the Sint Maarten Medical Center (SMMC), where he remains in critical condition.

Further details regarding the injuries are not available at this time.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the officers.

The Traffic Department is conducting an investigation into this serious traffic incident.

KPSM Press Release.

~Fire Department Grants 24-Hour Extension for Clarity and Action on Agreement."~

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Fire Department personnel of Sint Maarten wish to address the Prime Minister, Dr. Luc Mercelina, 's recent public statement regarding the ongoing situation within the Fire and Ambulance Department.
While we acknowledge the Prime Minister’s confirmation that the matter remains in mediation, it is crucial to highlight that a written agreement has been on the Minister’s desk since January 26, 2026, awaiting formal action.
In the interest of good faith and respect for the mediation process, Fire Department personnel are extending an additional 24 hours for clarity and progress on this matter.
We also feel it necessary to correct the public narrative. The meeting with the Council of Ministers was not initiated by the union, as suggested. It was requested directly by Fire Department personnel, using the union as the formal and required channel. This distinction is significant.
While the Prime Minister implied that the union is “behind all of this,” we want to make one thing abundantly clear:
The union’s strength comes from its members.
Fire Department personnel are not acting impulsively or without understanding. We are skilled, educated, and informed professionals who are fully capable of making decisions about our careers, rights, and futures. The union does not act independently of us—it acts with us, under our direction and mandate.
Our approach remains measured, lawful, and focused on solutions. We respect the mediation process and the institutions involved, but we also expect the same level of seriousness, transparency, and urgency in return.
We are committed to dialogue, fairness, and resolution, while standing firmly by the agreements that have already been reached and documented.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Referencing Wednesday’s parliamentary meeting on the draft law amending the General National Ordinance on Taxes, Member of Parliament Wescot-Williams reiterated the position she recently communicated to the Minister of Finance. 

In a letter to the Minister, the MP welcomed the government’s initial work on tax reform while cautioning that meaningful reform cannot succeed if it is built on an already broken foundation.

In the letter, the MP acknowledged the technical efforts of the Ministry of Finance and the civil service, but stressed that introducing new tax policies on top of existing structural weaknesses will not deliver lasting results.

“We cannot simply build anew on a broken foundation,” the MP stated in her recent letter. “If we want a fair and effective tax system, we must first clean house—address existing inefficiencies, outdated practices, and gaps in compliance—before layering on new rules and expectations.”

The MP emphasized that true tax reform must go beyond internal technical exercises and actively involve the business community, civil society, and independent financial and economic experts. According to the MP, these perspectives are critical to identifying what is not working in the current system and to restoring public confidence.

While recognizing the importance of safeguarding government revenues, the MP cautioned against an approach that prioritizes revenue neutrality at the expense of fairness, simplicity, and economic growth. She argued that tax reform must be grounded in Sint Maarten’s current realities, including a large informal economy, limited administrative capacity, and widespread distrust between taxpayers and the tax authority.

The MP reiterated her previous call for a national “get-your-CRIB-number” campaign, encouraging individuals and businesses to register within the tax system through low thresholds, simplified procedures, and taxpayer education. She noted that expanding the tax base requires trust-building measures and a clear signal that government is prepared to reset the system fairly.

In this context, the MP urged the government to consider “clean house” measures as a first phase of reform, including compliance amnesties, data cleanup, modernization of registries, and the removal of obsolete or contradictory tax provisions. Such steps, she stated, would create a stable foundation upon which sustainable reform can be built.

The MP also outlined a broader policy vision for the reform process, including:

• Evidence-based and transparent policymaking, supported by public data and economic impact assessments;
• Inclusive stakeholder engagement through structured consultations and advisory bodies;
• Simplification and digitalization of tax administration, with targeted support for small and medium-sized enterprises; and
• Phased implementation with independent monitoring, clear performance indicators, and regular public reporting.

“Tax reform must inspire confidence,” the MP concluded. “Cleaning house first is not about lowering standards; it is about creating a system that people believe in, understand, and are willing to comply with.”

During Wednesday’s parliamentary meeting on the draft law amending the General National Ordinance on Taxes, the MP also floated the idea of a Tax Compliance Pact with the people of Sint Maarten as a means of rebuilding the relationship between government and taxpayers. She noted that such a pact would strengthen the incremental efforts already being undertaken by the Minister in the area of tax collection.

“We have to do this together. In fact, every lasting endeavor of the government hinges on collaboration with all social partners.”

The MP expressed her readiness to engage constructively with the Minister of Finance and all stakeholders to help deliver a fair, credible, and effective tax system for the people of Sint Maarten.