PHILIPSBURG:---  The Sint Maarten Tax Administration is pleased to inform the public that several key tax documents for the year 2025 are now available on the Government of Sint Maarten website. These documents, which apply to both individuals and businesses, can be easily accessed and downloaded.

For individuals, the available documents include the 2025 Income Tax Return Form IB Model A and the 2025 Income Tax Return Form IB Model B. Both income tax return forms are due on June 1, 2026.

Businesses are advised that the Opgaaf Werkzaamheden Derden 2025 and the Verzamelloonstaat 2025 forms are also available. The filing deadline for these documents has been adjusted to February 2, 2026, as the original deadline of January 31 falls on a weekend.

Additionally, businesses can access the 2025 Provisional Profit Tax Return Form, which is due on March 31, 2026. The 2025 Final Profit Tax Return Form and the 2025 Profit Tax Return are both due on June 30, 2026.

Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the Government’s website at
https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Pages/Taxes-and-Forms.aspx to download the relevant documents and ensure the timely filing of their tax returns.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Tax Administration by telephone at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, or 542-3840, via WhatsApp at 556-3699, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, wishes to provide the public with an update regarding Sint Maarten patients currently receiving medical care abroad, in light of recent developments in the region, particularly the evolving situation in Venezuela.
From the onset of emerging regional tensions, the Ministry of VSA and SZV Social & Health Insurances have been closely monitoring the situation and assessing any potential impact on patient mobility, medical access, and continuity of care. As a precautionary measure, and prior to the developments over the past weekend, SZV had already begun facilitating the return of patients who were medically cleared and able to travel back to Sint Maarten from Curaçao and Colombia, due to concerns about possible disruptions to air travel in the region.
At this time, there are about 30 patients still receiving care in Curaçao and Colombia who require continued treatment before they are able to return home. SZV and the Ministry are actively coordinating medical oversight, logistics, and travel arrangements to ensure that these patients continue to receive appropriate care and can return safely as soon as their medical condition allows.
In the event of further escalation affecting Venezuela, Colombia, or Curaçao, the public is assured that contingency plans are already in place. SZV has identified alternative treatment destinations within the Caribbean, tailored to specific medical needs, to guarantee uninterrupted access to care for referred patients.
Minister Brug emphasized that these preparations are not solely a response to the current regional situation. “Even prior to recent developments, I instructed SZV to actively explore alternative care options within the Caribbean,” the Minister stated. “This was done both to strengthen our resilience in situations such as this and from a cost-containment perspective, while ensuring that the quality and safety of care remain paramount.”
The Ministry of VSA and SZV remain on top of this situation, working proactively, responsibly, and in close coordination with medical partners to protect the health and well-being of all patients receiving care abroad. The public will be kept informed should there be any changes that impact patient care or travel.

 Simpson Bay, St. Maarten:---  The Sint Maarten Marine Trades Association (SMMTA), in collaboration with the Simpson Bay Fireworks Association, is pleased to announce the return of Crew Year’s Eve, set to take place on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Crew Year’s Eve has become a much-anticipated tradition within St. Maarten’s maritime calendar, bringing together crew, marine professionals, residents, and visitors for an evening that celebrates the island’s vibrant marine community. The event will once again feature a festive atmosphere capped off with a spectacular fireworks display over Simpson Bay.
Following the strong turnout and positive response to previous editions, the SMMTA looks forward to welcoming the community for another memorable celebration. Crew Year’s Eve continues to serve as a moment of appreciation for the hard-working crews and businesses that contribute year-round to St. Maarten’s reputation as a leading yachting and maritime destination.
In addition to the main fireworks celebration scheduled for 10pm, several marinas will host events, welcoming both the maritime community and the wider public.
The SMMTA extends its sincere appreciation to the event partners and sponsors whose continued support makes Crew Year’s Eve possible: IGY Marinas, Yacht Club Port de Plaisance, Palapa Marina, Port of St. Maarten, Skyport Marina, Simpson Bay Resort, Pro Serve Marine, Island Water World, Napa, BWA Yachting, Carrefour, Steve Coetzer, PDG Supplies, and Bluwater Construction. Their commitment reflects the strength of collaboration within the marine sector and the shared pride in celebrating the people who power it.

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS:---  In a sharp rebuke of escalating geopolitical tensions, Prime Minister Mia Mottley has issued a stark warning about the perilous position of small island nations caught in the crossfire of international power struggles. Addressing the unfolding crisis in Venezuela, Mottley did not mince words, describing the Caribbean as "uncharted territory" where small states are forced to navigate the "testicular fortitude" of larger powers.

The Prime Minister's comments come as Barbados grapples with immediate logistical disruptions to its airspace and ports, consequences she attributes directly to the friction between major global players. Her address highlighted a growing frustration among Caribbean nations that find their stability threatened by conflicts they did not start.

"Conflict Has Consequences"

For Barbados, the impact of the Venezuelan crisis is not theoretical; it is immediate and economic. Mottley confirmed that the island's tourism and logistics hubs—vital lifelines for the economy—have already faced disruptions.

"We are not naive," Mottley stated, addressing the nation. "We understand that where large powers contend... that may have negative impact and implications for small countries such as ours."

She emphasized that the disruptions at the Grant Adams International Airport and the Bridgetown port affect more than just travelers; they strike at the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. "Not only wealthy people visit our nation," she noted, underscoring the vulnerability of the local economy to external shocks.

A Rules-Based Order Under Siege

Central to Mottley’s critique is the erosion of the international rules-based order, a framework she argues is existential for small states. She expressed deep concern over the "blatant breach" of international norms, suggesting that the world is regressing to a more dangerous, unstable era.

"In 2018, when I first addressed the United Nations, I said then that this world looks too much like it did a hundred years ago," Mottley recalled. "Regrettably, I have come to rue the day that I made that comment."

The Prime Minister painted a picture of a region lurching from "crisis to crisis"—from pandemics and cost-of-living surges to climate disasters and now, geopolitical instability. She argued that the current global environment leaves little room for "mature conversation," urging a de-escalation of hostilities before the fallout becomes unmanageable.

Navigating the Storm

Despite the critical tone, Mottley's message was also one of resilience and pragmatic leadership. She described the government’s current strategy as "perfecting the art of walking in between the raindrops," a metaphor for the precise and cautious diplomacy required to protect national interests without alienating powerful allies like the United States or Venezuela.

While maintaining that both nations remain "friends" of Barbados, she firmly aligned the country's foreign policy with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), prioritizing regional unity over unilateral alignment.

"Small states can only survive in an international rules-based order," she reiterated. "Anything that happens that runs contrary to that would be of grave concern to us as a people."

As tensions continue to simmer in Caracas, Mottley's words serve as a potent reminder that in the "playground" of global politics, it is often the smallest nations that suffer the most immediate bruising.