PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion has formally addressed the Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs, and the Minister of Justice, Nathalie Tackling, regarding a critical fiscal irregularity affecting government employees. In a letter sent on January 19, 2026, MP Irion requested the immediate correction of payroll errors that have left many workers taxed at an incorrect, elevated rate for up to two years.
"Based on complaints that came to me from concerned civil servants, the majority of whom are from the Ministry of Justice, it is clear that this administrative error is having a severe financial impact on their lives," MP Irion stated.
The issue stems from the handling of one-time lump sum payouts, for example, if someone receives a 100,000 guilders payout. While MP Irion acknowledges that such "Bijzondere Beloningen" (Special Remuneration) may trigger the top marginal tax rate of 47.5% for that specific transaction, he flagged the subsequent taxation of regular monthly salaries as "legally flawed."

Employees report that following this payout, the wage tax on their regular monthly salary was increased to 47.5% and has remained at this elevated rate for up to two years. When inquiring with the Wages and Salaries Department, they are told "it is being looked into," yet no fix has been implemented.
MP Irion, a former Minister of Finance, explained that the government’s payroll system appears to be calculating current taxes based on an inflated "Fiscaal Jaarloon" (Fiscal Annual Wage) from the previous year, a figure skewed by the one-time payout. He argues this is a direct misapplication of the ordinance, as regular monthly salaries must be taxed according to the "Periodic Wage Tax Tables" (Tijdvaktabellen), which are designed to reflect actual periodic income earned in a specific month, unrelated to past exceptional events.

"By locking these civil servants into the 47.5% bracket for their regular salary, the government is effectively over-withholding taxes and reducing their disposable income without legal justification," the MP noted.
In his correspondence, MP Irion issued two primary requests to the Ministers, specifically asking them to instruct the Wages and Salaries Department to revert all affected employees to their proper income tax brackets immediately based on their actual current earnings. Furthermore, he requested that they calculate the excess wage tax withheld during this period and issue reimbursements to these employees within a reasonable timeline.

Additionally, MP Irion commended the Government for successfully finding a mechanism to pay the recent Christmas bonus completely tax-free. He has challenged the Ministers to disclose the legal basis for this exemption and proposes applying the same methodology to the lump-sum payouts for Justice workers to ensure equal treatment.
The letter has been copied to relevant union leaders, including WICSU/PSU, NAPB, and ABVO, signaling a unified push for a speedy resolution.

Click here for the letter sent to the Minister of Finance.

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten is set to experience a significant boost to its cultural and economic sectors with the return of the Soka Rumble competition and the announcement of a high-level Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop. Both initiatives, highlighted in a recent press briefing by Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT), Grisha Heyliger-Marten, signal a commitment to empowering local talent and collaboratively planning the nation's future.

After a six-year break, Soka Rumble is back, providing a vital platform for the island's artists. Now managed by a non-profit organization to ensure fairness and transparency, the competition aims to propel local music onto the global stage under the banner "St. Martin Soka to the World." Minister Heyliger-Marten described the event as more than just a competition, calling it "a launchpad for your music, your voice and your future."

The registration deadline for artists has been extended, offering more opportunities to participate. To be eligible, artists must be residents of St. Martin, be 18 years or older, and submit original tracks that have been professionally mixed and mastered for the 2026 Carnival season. Interested artists can register by contacting the organizing team via WhatsApp at 526-SOKA (526-7622) or through the official Soka Rumble Facebook page.

In parallel with efforts to steer the island's economic future, the Ministry of TEATT will host the Strategic Economic Stakeholders Consultation Workshop from February 2nd to the 6th. The five-day, invitation-only event, titled "Addressing St. Martin's Crossroads and Charting a New Way Forward," will take place at the Belair Community Center.

The workshop is designed to tackle complex, interconnected challenges through inclusive and cross-sectoral dialogue. Each day will focus on a specific theme, including tourism development, safety and security, the blue economy (maritime and yachting), and the orange economy (arts, culture, and festivals). The goal is to move from discussion to decisive action, creating a Strategic Economic Development Plan with concrete, actionable steps.

"This process is about real input, real ownership, and shared responsibility for the way forward," stated Minister Heyliger-Marten, emphasizing a shift from talk to action. "This is what governing forward by design looks like, not reacting to crisis, but deliberately planning the future of St. Martin together."

The workshop will bring together representatives from the private sector, labor unions, government-owned entities, independent bodies, and various ministries. While the event is by invitation, experts in the relevant fields who wish to contribute are encouraged to contact Secretary-General Miguel de Wever at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Head of the ETT department, Shervin Frederick, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Justice, Mr. Tackling, and the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel S.J. Brug, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure that persons placed under involuntary admission at the Mental Health Foundation receive the legal support and representation they deserve.

This initiative stems in part from a motion passed in Parliament, brought forward by Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg, which called for strengthened legal safeguards and access to legal assistance for individuals subjected to involuntary mental health admission.

The signing of this MOU addresses a gap in the current legal framework. Under existing legislation, individuals who are involuntarily admitted do not have a clearly established mechanism guaranteeing access to independent legal support. The MOU provides an interim solution to safeguard the rights of these individuals while broader legislative reforms are being pursued.

Through this agreement, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor formalize their cooperation to ensure that affected individuals are informed of their rights and have access to appropriate legal assistance throughout the involuntary admission process.

Minister Tackling emphasized that access to legal protection is a fundamental right, especially for individuals in vulnerable situations. Minister Brug underscored that involuntary admission is a serious measure that is applied only in situations of acute mental-health crisis. In such circumstances, it is essential that care interventions are accompanied by clear legal safeguards.

This MOU ensures that individuals are informed of their rights and have access to legal support, reinforcing a balanced and responsible approach to crisis mental-health care. Both Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening mental health care and legal protections in Sint Maarten, noting that this MOU represents an important step toward a more humane and rights-based approach. Work will continue to modernize the legislation governing involuntary admissions.

As the new year unfolds, the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation, and Telecommunication (TEATT), led by Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten, has introduced the 2026 Passenger Transport Confirmation Letter process. While the Minister hails this initiative as a step toward "order, safety, and fairness," it has sparked widespread frustration among bus and taxi operators, who view the process as overly bureaucratic and disconnected from the realities of their industry.

A System Overloaded with Red Tape

The new compliance process, which requires operators to submit an exhaustive list of documents—including crib numbers, proof of road tax payment, valid licenses, and vehicle photos—has left many feeling overwhelmed. The introduction of consolidated applications for companies, while intended to streamline operations, has added complexity for those already struggling to navigate the system.

For individual operators, the requirements are equally burdensome. Declarations for assistant drivers, mandatory fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and the looming threat of re-inspections for vehicles with "visible defects" have created an atmosphere of anxiety. While the Minister claims these measures will "professionalize and strengthen public transportation," many operators see them as an exercise in micromanagement rather than meaningful reform.

A Deadline That Feels Like a Threat

February 27, 2026, deadline for compliance has been set with a stark warning: late processing "cannot be guaranteed." This leaves operators scrambling to meet the requirements, with little room for error or delay. For many, the stakes are high; failure to comply could result in operational delays or being marked inactive, threatening their livelihoods.

The Minister’s advice to "not wait until the last minute" offers little comfort to those already overwhelmed by the process. The lack of a clear contingency plan for those who may face delays only adds to the uncertainty and frustration.

A Process That Feels Punitive, Not Supportive

While Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten emphasizes the importance of "order, safety, and fairness," the reality on the ground paints a different picture. The process appears more focused on enforcing compliance than addressing the real challenges facing the transportation sector, such as inadequate infrastructure, rising operational costs, and the need for better support for operators.

The lack of meaningful consultation with stakeholders before implementing these changes has left many feeling alienated and unheard. Instead of fostering collaboration, the Ministry’s approach has created a divide between policymakers and the people they serve.

A Missed Opportunity for Real Change

The 2026 Passenger Transport Confirmation Letter process could have been an opportunity to build trust and collaboration between the Ministry and the transportation sector. Instead, it has become a source of frustration and division. Minister Grisha Heyliger-Marten’s vision of "Forward by Design" may sound promising, but for many operators, it feels like they are being left behind.

As the February deadline approaches, the question remains: will the Ministry listen to the concerns of those on the ground, or will it continue to push forward with a process that feels more like a bureaucratic exercise than a meaningful step toward progress? Only time will tell, but for now, the transportation sector is left to navigate a system that seems designed to test their patience rather than their potential.