PHILIPSBURG: --- The government of St. Maarten is busy collecting data from all carriers in order to update their systems as to what is allowed to enter St. Maarten while considering levying duties on imports and export.
SMN News learned that the Customs Department sent an email a week ago to all carriers. demanding manifests, bill of laden, invoices with values of items, and packing list. They had to be submitted as of April 1st, 2002. This data must be turned in for all shipments.
A meeting was held last week Wednesday with the carriers who demanded more information from the customs department as to why they are demanding detailed information from all their customers.
So far, the Indian Merchants Associations and the private sectors were not informed about the additional taxes that the government is considering imposing for all imported items, since many persons on both sides of the island have chosen to shop online to secure decent quality products and at a cheaper cost.
At the Council of Minister's press conference on Wednesday, SMN News asked the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to share more information on government plans on levying import and export duty on all items coming into the island.
Minister of Justice Anna Richardson in responding to the question as to why the Customs Department is spearheading the data collection. Minister Richardson said that the government is not levying duties, she said Customs is implementing a new software system in order to have statistics as to what is allowed to enter and leave the country. In making the statement the Minister said that it was not the intention to levy any duties from the Ministry of Justice.
However, in clarifying Prime Minister Silveria said that St. Maarten is busy with reforms and government is busy reviewing and discussing all possibilities. She said the government is also reviewing prospects within the country packages on what can be done and not done. However, these possibilities still have to be reviewed.
Prime Minister Jacobs said noting these topics have been finalized. The Prime Minister said that there are discussions ongoing to monitor the imports and exports, but it has nothing to do with levying any form of taxes. This she said is done for the purpose of controls such as price controls which is the responsibility of the government and the discussion continues while there is a collaboration between the Ministries of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ports Services are working collectively on ensuring the controls takes place.
