Dear Editor,

In the world of mass tourism, destinations too often become transactional, designed to serve quick impressions and even quicker departures. But we believe a place like Philipsburg deserves more. And so do the people who call it home.

With deep roots planted in the mindful hospitality of Loterie Farm, we believe in bringing a new kind of experience to our south side coastline – one that balances vibrancy with soul, accessibility with authenticity, and commerce with contribution.

This is not just a “rehab”, it’s a reimagining – not just of space, but of spirit.

Because even amid the high pace of cruise ship comings and goings, there is space, and need – for stillness, beauty, and intentional design.

Because cruise guests deserve something more soulful. And because stay-over visitors deserve to discover a Philipsburg that reflects the island’s true character: creative, original and quietly luxurious.

We’re not here to replicate any other destinations within our ecosystem. We’re simply reinterpreting an ethos compatible with a different setting – where the experience still uplifts, still roots you, and still stays with you long after you’ve left.

We’re building more than a space. We’re building belonging.

* For locals: Jobs, pride, platforms for expression, and a conscientious urban escape that feeds the senses and the soul

* For cruise guests: A moment of pause and depth in the middle of an often hurried day

* For stay-over guests: A reason to explore beyond the resort and rediscover Philipsburg as a living, breathing destination.

Philipsburg is not just a cruise port. It’s a canvas. It’s where heritage meets horizon. Where local stories will unfold in food, music, art, and design.

We’re creating spaces that invite you into that story through sensory experience, conscious hospitality, and an atmosphere that feels more like community than commercialism.

Whether you’re staying in Terres Basses, Orient Bay, or Grand Case, Philipsburg is worth the trip, not just for shopping, but for something that surprises you – a lush, curated moment you didn’t see coming, an experience that redefines what you thought this town was.

We believe tourism should enrich the place it touches; that guests of all kinds, cruise or stay-over, deserve more than a loud spectacle of mediocrity.

They deserve truth, beauty, care, and the kind of experience that honors the land, the people, and the possibility of connection.

To our fellow stakeholders, neighbors, and community stewards: Let’s reshape the narrative of Philipsburg together.

Let’s offer guests something unforgettable, not because it’s loud, but because it’s alive.

Let’s give our town the spotlight it deserves, because when we do that, everyone wins.

William BJ Welch

The LF Group

Dear Editor,

The need for tax reform in St. Maarten is undeniable. With a fragile economy, limited revenue streams, and increasing reliance on external funding, a fairer and more stable tax system is not a luxury but a necessity. However, the current approach risks doing more harm than good. The recent proposal by former Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion is a stark example: a narrow reform of the profit tax, without an integrated plan for the broader fiscal framework.

This piecemeal approach is not only ineffective – it is potentially damaging. A tax system is an interconnected structure. Altering one component, such as the profit tax, without accounting for its impact on other taxes – like income tax, wage tax, turnover tax, and social security premiums – can lead to unintended consequences. These may include shifting tax burdens, forcing entrepreneurs to abandon income tax status in favor of costly legal entities, and creating legal inequality.

Moreover, St. Maarten lacks – with all due respect – the institutional resilience to continuously implement ad hoc reforms. The Tax Administration has long struggled with capacity issues, compliance rates are low, and public trust in government institutions is fragile. Any new fiscal instrument must be not only economically sound but also administratively feasible and socially legitimate.

Reforming the profit tax in isolation, as suggested by Minister Irion, without parallel changes to the income tax, for example, could even backfire. In a small, open economy like St. Maarten, businesses are highly sensitive to tax burdens. A standalone adjustment to the profit tax could discourage investment without achieving a fairer distribution of the tax load.

What St. Maarten truly needs, in my opinion, is a coherent fiscal policy plan with clear goals: broaden the tax base, reduce the informal economy, improve compliance, and support economic growth. This requires transparent consultations with the private sector, the people of St. Maarten, and international partners – not quick fixes driven by political or financial pressure.

A solid, inclusive, and integrated fiscal strategy is no easy feat – but it is the only path to sustainable public finances. Quick patchwork measures like Minister Irion’s proposal may earn short-term political points, but they risk undermining the larger goal: building a fair and future-proof tax system for St. Maarten.

That said, the intent behind Minister Irion’s initiative – to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and modernize parts of the tax legislation – is commendable. It reflects a willingness to tackle long-standing issues and a recognition that reform is overdue.

Now, what is needed is to channel that momentum into a broader, more coordinated reform effort – one that strengthens the entire fiscal foundation of Sint Maarten and serves all citizens equitably and sustainably.

Marco Aalbers

Former Tax Inspector on St. Maarten and active in the Caribbean in the field of tax law education.

Dear Editor,

I googled "team player" and the explanation is an individual who actively involves him/herself in a group to realize its goal. It does not say "actively and blindly". This concerns the Council of Ministers.

So, my question is what was the reason and objective for forming this team (picking these players)? Did not these players take an oath? Was it to serve the players of the team only and not include those persons who were instrumental in making it possible for them to be able to become members of that team? So why should we be surprised when there are consistently investigations going on around and about those teams.

This brings me back to many years ago, when I started to openly voice my opinion in the paper. I was approached by a member of one of the then existing political parties to become a member of the party. When I told him that that was not my ambition, he told me that he would still bring my name forward in their meetings. When I ran into him some time later, I asked him about his suggestion. He said to me, "Boy I didn't know that's the way things does go. When I talk to them about you they tell me no, not you. You too straight. You 'n a team player."

So I was never really surprised with all that happened politically since10-10-'10. I believe that even kindergarteners know what happens when one puts the mouse to mind the cheese.

I will try to open some minds and eyes by stating the following. I started as what was then called an alter boy when I was seven years old. I have served for a whole lot of funeral services. I have also attended many, many funerals in different churches. Up now I have not seen any money in a casket. An observation I have consistently made is: if leaders of government are convinced that they need plenty money to live adequately, should not they also think the same is necessary for the people who made it possible for them to get where they are?

A retired colleague of mine who lives on one of the other islands mentioned that the Dutch are copying from Sint Maarten. I told him for me that is not a laughing matter. That might become an excuse for them not to comply. I am not an insider, but I know what happens when confusion starts to straighten out.

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Fernando Clerk and Christophe Emmanuel,

We often listen to your programmes on SOS radio every Tuesday night. But you both, Fernando and Christophe, must give Mark a chance to talk, allow him to inform the people too, of what is going on here politically.

You, Christophe, should allow Mark to express himself, educate the people. And you, Christophe, must let Fernando close the programmes.

Be more constructive.

Cuthbert Bannis