Dear Editor,
I read about the traffic accident at the back of the police station between a bus and a motorcycle in which it was stated that the bus was responsible for the cause of the accident. Let me start by stating this.
The way the exit of that parking lot is laid out and the fact that there is a roundabout within fifty meters of the exit of the parking lot, no one exiting that parking lot should attempt to make a left turn leaving that parking lot. So in my opinion either the exit should be altered or an arrow should be painted on the ground by the exit indicating obligated to turn right and a traffic sign indicating no left turn.
Now this. In no form or fashion can I feel good knowing that someone was hurt in any accident, but I continue to state that in any accident in which a motorcycle is involved it is always the occupant of motorcycle who is hurt, the rest is material damage, which again is in this case.
When I ask what has happened to those sayings from our parents and grandparents, I am told that parents have to be careful, because children are told that they have rights. Some people try to get away with “You can make the child, but you can't make its mind.” But I am standing firm with Proverbs 13:24. If I am responsible for you I am responsible for your upbringing.
I can remember my mother asking a lady many years ago, who commented on the way my mother was punishing me, “Are you ready to give me your good child for my bad child?” It took me years to understand what my mother meant.
Now this. What I know is that it is for years now that we are aware of what the liveable wage on St. Maarten is and that no matter who is in power in the government nothing has changed. On the contrary, things have gotten worse. Proof is the Governor's New Year’s remarks. The consequences of this is that parents have to do more than one job to make ends meet. Yes I wrote “ends” because it is not “to make it” but literally to make ends meet.
The Customs should be able to tell us who are the main importers of food and also let government know why is it (or not) justified that every day, I repeat every day at least the price of one (food) product is increased by US $0.25 in the supermarkets managed by foreign nationals. I mentioned managed, because a whole lot of permits for supermarkets were issued to locals, who in turn contract foreign nationals to manage their business in a skillful manner.
In closing I would appreciate if we all would read the Governor’s New Year’s message.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Philipsburg needs an uplift with beautification, more parking, proper sidewalks, lights and about 2,000 more people to live there.
Even all the buildings government has to rebuild can have five floors. Our police, teachers, nurses and many more can own their own home. Government should build parking places in Philipsburg and use this income to paint the roads more often.
Cuthbert Bannis
Dear Editor,
It has been nearly a year since a 40+-foot sailboat washed ashore in Simpson Bay, one of our most treasured assets, and it remains broken and beached to this day.
After multiple letters (including one hand-delivered) to VROMI, with unanswered requests for action, this eyesore and more importantly environmental hazard remains stranded, half buried in the sand.
Fortunately, this past hurricane season only had passing storms, but if this wreck remains on the beach, we risk a hazardous, environmental fluid spill and possible damage to homeowners’ property. This ticking time bomb needs to be properly disposed of and well before the upcoming hurricane season, which might not be so forgiving.
The police know who owns the wreck and should hold them accountable for the cost of removal.
VROMI, where are you? Please address this situation now before it becomes an even bigger problem.
R. Paul Speece
Dear Editor,
We continually hear that the irresponsible parents are the fault of the behavior of delinquent children. It is also written in Proverbs 13:24 that discipline is necesarry for good upbringing (if the parents spare the rod that would spoil the child). In our penal regulation it is also stated that the public prosecutor is in charge of the vigiliance of the adhering to the maintaining of the public order.
One might think what is Russell getting at this time? In keeping with what part of what the crux of my upbringing was, if I see something is not correct and I don't do anything about it, I too am contributing to that wrong. Therefore I am challenging every single person who is involved with public law enforcement and also the vehicle inspection office to explain what is the reason that so many motor vehicles are being driven over the roads of St. Martin (Dutch/French) with illegal lighting and no one is doing anything about it?
I cannot lie to returning visitors who have known me for years when they question me about this. I am going to repeat myself. Irresponsible drivers only adhere when they feel it in their pockets. Along with that the police officers will be contributing to the justice coffers, which if I am correct in extension will be contributing to their own salary.
Now this. Equally as the heavy equipement (dumptrucks, cement trucks) are too big for those small roads on St. Maarten, so are the tour-buses. Along with that if we down-size on the tour-buses, then we would be able to give more people work and smaller buses would have access to more sites. All crave all lost is not an exaggeration.
By the way, would traffic lights by the intersection Sucker Garden Road/Arch Road help to regulate and alleviate traffic leaving Philipsburg?
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
A system that’s failing everyone:
“Why are we forced to use expensive international services when we live on a tiny island?” This question, posted by a frustrated business owner on social media, sums up the challenges faced by many in St. Maarten. The payment system, rather than promoting growth, is a limiting factor.
Every card swipe comes with an invisible cost. Businesses are hit with high transaction fees they can’t control, and consumers ultimately pay the price through higher costs at checkout. Whether you’re buying groceries or paying for services, these fees are a burden in an already expensive economy.
The issue gets more complicated when you realize that even local payments are often routed through international networks like Visa and Mastercard, which charge fees of up to 4% per transaction. While cross-border transactions justify higher fees, it’s hard to understand why payments that stay on the island are still subject to international charges. For small businesses with razor-thin margins, these fees eat into profits, forcing some to set minimum purchase amounts for card payments or even stop accepting cards altogether.
The St. Maarten Bankers Association and the Ministry of Finance have labeled minimum purchase amounts as policy violations. But can we really blame merchants? It’s complicated. Some businesses are left with no choice but to pass those costs onto consumers, while others may see an opportunity to profit. And for families already struggling to make ends meet, every extra charge feels like a punishment for simply trying to live in a modern economy.
Recently, the National Payment Council (NPC) and the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten (CBCS) announced plans to modernize St. Maarten’s payment system. They’ve talked about introducing instant payment technologies and fintech solutions that would lower transaction costs.
Sounds promising, right? But here’s the catch: there’s no clear timeline. The NPC hinted that some progress might come in 2025, but businesses and consumers need relief now, not years from now. And let’s be honest – we’ve seen this play out before:
* In Curaçao, the transition to Visa and Mastercard was supposed to improve security but ended up increasing costs for businesses.
* In Barbados, moving to international payment networks made online transactions easier but left small businesses struggling with higher fees.
If we don’t act quickly, St. Maarten could follow the same path – modernizing at the expense of the people.
What happened to SEN?
In June 2023, the Ministry of Finance partnered with CX Pay to launch the SEN Payment App, a local e#wallet that aimed to reduce transaction fees and provide a digital payment solution for both the banked and unbanked communities.
The app was beta-launched with great fanfare in October 2023 at the government building, where the Ministry of Finance hosted an onboarding session to familiarize citizens with the platform. But since then, it’s gone silent – a ghost project with no updates or progress reports. Was this another initiative that lost momentum after two elections? Continuity has always been a challenge in St. Maarten’s government.
But here’s the thing: the idea behind SEN was sound. A local e-wallet could have been a game changer, offering small businesses and consumers a low cost alternative to traditional banking. Sadly, it became yet another missed opportunity, hindered by a lack of proper follow-through and accountability.
What locals are fed up with
Scrolling through Facebook, the frustrations are clear: “Why do banks block my card when I try to shop online?” “Why does accessing my own money feel like rocket science?” These questions reflect a growing distrust in the local banking system. People are turning to U.S. accounts and international platforms like Wise and Revolut, bypassing local banks entirely. That’s money leaving St. Maarten’s economy – money that could be helping the country grow.
Without immediate reforms, small businesses will continue to struggle, and consumers will keep paying the price. Action is needed now to keep money circulating within St. Maarten’s economy.
Want change? Here’s where to start:
1️. Cap fees immediately
Introduce a temporary cap on transaction fees between 1.5% and 2%, a range aligned with global best practices. The European Union caps credit card fees at 0.3% and debit card fees at 0.2% under the Interchange Fee Regulation. While St. Maarten’s banking landscape differs, a reasonable cap would ensure banks cover their costs without overburdening businesses and consumers. No one expects banks to operate at a loss, but it’s unclear how much of these fees are needed for costs versus profit. A cap would offer immediate relief while the NPC works on sustainable, long-term reforms.
2️. Support small businesses
Help small businesses adopt modern payment systems by offering tax breaks or subsidies. These programs have worked in other Caribbean countries, easing financial burdens while increasing digital adoption.
3️. Relaunch SEN with accountability
The SEN app had the potential to lower transaction costs and promote financial inclusion. However, it stalled due to lack of follow-through. Reviving the app – this time with proper oversight, a clear roadmap, and private sector support – could provide a low-cost, local e-wallet solution that benefits both the banked and unbanked populations.
4. Increase transparency
The lack of clear, published fee structures creates distrust between banks, businesses, and consumers. Requiring banks and payment processors to disclose all fees and charges in simple terms would help rebuild trust and accountability.
The bottom line: Stop talking. Start building.
We’ve heard the promises. We’ve seen the ideas. But people can’t pay their bills with empty words. The solutions are already out there – discussed in meetings, highlighted in reports, and echoed across social media. Now is the time for action. St. Maarten must decide: build a payment system that serves the people, or keep forcing them to find workarounds.. An economy can’t thrive when its foundation is broken.
Angelique Remy-Chittick
Financial Strategist and Consultant
Financial.ish
