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 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
I stand before you today as a voice for those who are always left behind. I am James Finies – I come from Bonaire, an island in the southern Caribbean, ‘nos ta papia papiamento’– we speak Papiamento together with Haitian, the only two official native languages in the Caribbean that survived colonization – an island still colonized to this day. In the 21st century, my people are denied representation, erased from the global narrative, and excluded from decision-making about our own future.
As we meet to discuss culture and digital transformation in the context of sustainable development, we must confront a critical question: Can sustainable development truly exist in colonized territories where international human rights instruments are absent or denied? On Bonaire, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are not realities – we live outside their protection.
Digital transformation, driven by AI and algorithms, is built on historical data. But our stories were never recorded. Our histories were never written. And now, in the digital age, we risk being erased once more – this time by design. If we don’t act now, we will be permanently excluded from the future being built around us.
Culture is not a side note – it is central to development. Without cultural rights, there is no dignity, no justice, and no sustainable future. The digital world must reflect all cultures, not just those already in power.
This requires action in three key areas: 1 - Equity and access. Digital technologies must be available to all communities, especially those historically excluded. 2 - Ethics and governance. AI must be aligned with human rights and transparency. It must serve humanity – not deepen inequality. 3 - Diversity and innovation. Every culture deserves to be seen, valued, and preserved. Innovation thrives when all voices are heard.
Meanwhile, on Bonaire, our native language Papiamento is disappearing from schools. Our flag replaced. Our online presence rewritten. New settlers flood our island, while native voices are silenced. Our native population has shrunk from 80% in 2010 to just 30% today. We are losing our land, our rights, our culture, our identity, we are facing ethnic and cultural erasure.
I am here as the last hope of our people – Our culture still breathes. Our language still lives. Our spirit endures. We are resilient, we have the faith not to be erased. Our future must be decided by us. Decolonize AI, decolonize Bonaire
So I call on the United Nations and the world: Include us. Protect us. Stand with us. Let us build a future where no one – truly no one – is left behind.
James Finies
Chairman Bonaire Human Resources Organisation (BHRO)
Speech given at the United Nations High-Level Interactive Dialogue on Culture and Sustainable Development, on May 29, 2025.
Dear Editor,
It takes a professional to know when to pause and evaluate the critical issues of her domain, in order to determine how to move forward from a point of reference – a set of criteria that values inclusion and appreciation – a system that further facilitates the needs of not just the personnel within her ministry, but the entire community.
The elucidation by Justice Minster Nathalie Tackling on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, parliamentary meeting cemented this momentous change to the landscape of government. Her vision and efficient coordination allowed her to navigate the ministry into a centralized system – a template that demands clarity, accountability, efficiency, consistency and impartiality.
Repeatedly, the population has seen government officials in positions of leadership, and all they care about is their salary and a glamourous lifestyle – a practice that hardly, or does not include the wellbeing of the people. Finally, the community has witnessed a shift in governance, where a new course has been determined to reinstitute trust and dependability, as a means to empower the society.
Minister Tackling, because you have a genuine commitment to the issues that matter, there wasn’t any need for you to calibrate the truth. It is a fact that whatever is rooted inside of a person will emerge eventually. It’s just a matter of situation and time before this innate quality comes out. Just as accurate is that “Discipline isn’t about what’s convenient. It’s about what’s right, even when it’s not easy.”
As challenging as the situation may be, “Every disappointment is a blessing in disguise.” Case in point: When you mentioned that the primary employee who was responsible for handling the National Decrees left, there was a void that stagnated the ministry for a while; but her departure has allowed you to examine the complexity of the system, to bring it into alignment, for effective management.
I applaud the idea to make the process of the National Decrees inclusive, to lessen the mistakes. However, 30 days seem quite a long time to raise an objection, because if the entire consignment or a great portion of it needs to be revisited, then the process crawls again, and depending on the severity of the objections, it will create severe discontent. Perhaps I0 days is a more reasonable time to oppose the findings of the decrees.
It also takes a professional to understand the limitations within one’s ministry and at the same time, be humble enough to seek an alternative that would remedy the situation, in a very efficient way. So, I support the initiative to include the accounting body in government to speed up the process. It further demonstrates humility and your commitment to finalize this long awaited commission.
During this assessment and reconstruction process, the blessing in disguise gave you the opportunity to discover that there are four different payrolls, which is often confusing to several justice personnel, because their personal information are scattered over the various payrolls. With the professional assistance of the accounting body, this centralized payroll system will come to fruition and be utilized as a point of reference.
It was such a proud moment to see how you were able to speak from a place of knowledge, instead of shuffling through lots of papers and eyes glued to the computer. Even when additional questions were posed or requests for clarification, you responded with simplicity and wisdom, while you maintained that elevated level of communication.
Minister Tackling, you have gradually lifted the veil of several practices that have stagnated the growth of the Justice Ministry. However, it is imperative that you stay disciplined, no matter how difficult the journey ahead may appear to be. Therefore, continue to guard the dignity of your legacy, as you proceed to reinforce trust within your ministry and the community.
Joslyn Morton
Dear Editor,
I recently read an open letter regarding former MP Mr. Theo Heyliger and his alleged access to phones while incarcerated. The Prison Director was even mentioned as possibly facilitating these privileges due to political ties with Mr. Heyliger and his wife.
