A proposal by Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Rosenburg (URSM) to amend article 240 of the Rent Ordinance (see Tuesday newspaper) makes all the sense in the world. It aims to raise the maximum value for real estate to fall under the Rent Committee.
The latter is now 200,000 Caribbean guilders and was set decades ago. That threshold is obviously no longer adequate in today’s market.
Let’s face it, housing is relatively expensive in St. Maarten, due in part to the island’s tourism economy. This makes it difficult for residents to compete with visitors who buy or rent vacation homes.
Some might find the suggested increase to Cg. 850,000 is a bit drastic. After all, it represents a hike of more than 300%. However, for a large family in need of, for example, a three-bedroom unit, the amount is not so outrageous.
The fact remains that many tenants currently have little protection against unscrupulous landlords because they cannot appeal to the tribunal. The alternative is costly and often lengthy court procedures.
Similarly, a recent unanimously adopted motion of MP Francisco Lacroes (UP) to raise the maximum balance on the newly approved basic bank account brings this more in line with reality. Here, too, it regards a hefty increase, almost doubling the limit from Cg. 3,000 to Cg. 5,400.
Whatever one may think of these amounts, local laws should indeed reflect the country’s present situation on the ground.
