PHILIPSBURG:---The Tax Administration is pleased to announce the launch of its new WhatsApp service, designed to improve communication and provide taxpayers with a faster and more convenient way to contact the Tax Department.

This service will help taxpayers respond quickly to general questions, get basic guidance on tax-related issues, and find the necessary forms. This service will be available during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

While existing communication methods such as email and phone are still available, the WhatsApp service adds an extra option, especially useful for urgent questions that require fast responses. Taxpayers with more complex questions or document-related requests and submissions are encouraged to continue using the official email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The introduction of this service reinforces the Tax Administration’s commitment to improving public accessibility and responsiveness. In addition to the new WhatsApp service, taxpayers can continue to reach the department through the following phone numbers: +1 (721) 542-2143 / 542-5301 / 542-5304 / 542-3839.

To access the new WhatsApp service, simply save the number +1 (721) 556-3699 in your phone and send a message. For regular updates, important announcements, and deadline reminders, please follow the official Facebook page: Sint Maarten Tax Administration.

PHILIPSBURG:--- A public meeting has been requested by Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes, Chairman of the Committee of Parlatino Matters, to provide updates on Sint Maarten's participation in various Parlatino (Latin American Parliament) committee meetings over recent months. Scheduled for April 15, 2025, the session will encourage transparency by allowing Members of Parliament to present their findings and contributions from these regional gatherings.

The meeting aims to inform Parliament and the public about the key activities, discussions, and decisions made during Sint Maarten’s engagement in Parlatino's committee meetings. These updates are vital for reflecting on the island’s role in tackling shared challenges across Latin America and the Caribbean and ensuring accountability in its regional representation.

Agenda Highlights

The public meeting promises a series of presentations covering a broad range of critical issues addressed in different Parlatino committees. Members of Parliament who attended the meetings will share detailed reports on their engagements. Key agenda points include:

1. Committee on Political, Municipal Affairs, and Integration
   Updates will be provided by MPs F. Lacroes, L. Lewis, V. Kotai, and S. Roseburg on their participation in meetings held in October 2024, November 2024, and March 2025.

2. Committee on Gender Equality, Children, and Youth
   MPs V. Jansen-Webster, S. Roseburg, and D. York will report on discussions conducted during the same timeframe.

3. Committee on Indigenous, Afro-Descendant Peoples and Ethnic Groups
   Presentations will be delivered by MPs V. Kotai and D. Labega on matters addressed in March 2025.

4. Committee on Human Rights, Justice, and Prison Policies
   MP S. Roseburg will outline insights gained during the March 2025 meeting.

5. Committee on Public Services and Consumer Protection
   MPs F. Lacroes and V. Kotai will present updates from the April 2025 session.

6. Committee on Economic Affairs, Social Debt, and Regional Development
   Reports will be shared by MPs C. Wever and D. York on discussions held in April 2025.

The Importance of Parlatino Engagement

Parlatino serves as a vital forum for collaboration among member nations to address pressing regional concerns such as human rights, gender equality, economic development, and environmental sustainability. Sint Maarten’s participation underscores its commitment to fostering unity and finding collective solutions to the region’s challenges.

Through these committee discussions, Sint Maarten helps shape policies impacting not just the island but also its neighboring countries. By sharing the outcomes of these sessions, Parliament aims to highlight the strategic role Sint Maarten plays in influencing and addressing regional priorities.

Commitment to Transparency and Regional Cooperation

Chairman MP Francisco A. Lacroes emphasized that this meeting represents an important step toward fostering transparency and accountability. By engaging the public and Parliament, the session will help create a better understanding of how Sint Maarten contributes to Parlatino and leverages the platform to address shared issues.

This public meeting reflects Parliament’s efforts to provide open communication about Sint Maarten’s regional partnerships and reinforce its dedication to working collaboratively with Latin American and Caribbean nations. Citizens and stakeholders are encouraged to attend to gain deeper insights into the island's expanding role within the Parlatino framework.

For more information on the upcoming meeting, the public can reach out to the Parliament of Sint Maarten.

PHILIPSBURG:--- As Sint Maarten prepares to kick off Carnival 2025 on April 21st, the Sint Maarten Police Force (KPSM) is intensifying its efforts to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all residents and visitors.

In preparation for the opening days of the Carnival festivities, KPSM has developed and launched an informative campaign featuring several posters in three different languages. These posters highlight various forms of punishable behavior and clearly state the fines and consequences for individuals who violate public safety laws during the Carnival season.

The posters will be distributed and published across KPSM’s official digital platforms over the coming days, ensuring that the public is well-informed about expected behavior and legal boundaries during the celebrations.

While Carnival is a time of joy and cultural expression, KPSM reminds the public that moderation, respect, and responsibility are key to a successful and safe festival. The police are calling on everyone to abide by the rules and laws that protect the safety and well-being of revelers, bystanders, the general public, and our valued visitors.

KPSM will maintain a strong presence throughout the Carnival period and will not hesitate to act against individuals engaging in violent or disruptive behavior.

Let’s work together to ensure Carnival 2025 is remembered for its vibrant culture and unity, not for unnecessary incidents.

Celebrate smart. Celebrate safe. Celebrate together.

KPSM Press Release

An agreement related to the creation of the 1st Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) has been signed ahead of the Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS) co-hosted with Island Innovation and St. Kitts and Nevis in May this year. The Forum is being heralded as a key stepping stone following discussions at the COP29 UN Climate Summit in Azerbaijan and the SIDS4 conference in Antigua & Barbuda last year,  focused on improving access to climate finance for SNIJs.

SNIJs are territories and countries that enjoy varying autonomy levels. Still, they are attached to a larger country - in the case of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten: the Netherlands. Several European countries have authority over island jurisdictions, such as Denmark (Greenland), Spain (Canary Islands), or France (New Caledonia), but SNIJs also include Guam (USA), Zanzibar (Tanzania), and Lakshadweep (India).

Communities living in SNIJs find themselves in a gray area regarding climate funding opportunities. Their attachment to another economy disqualifies them from most international financing pathways. Yet, they often have different needs and priorities from their central authority, with limited representation within that larger political structure. The different autonomies and sovereignties that each SNIJ has are contrasted by the similar challenges they face in an increasingly complex development finance landscape. The 1st Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions will allow SNIJs to take stock of issues, potential solutions, and opportunities to increase awareness and action at the international stage.

The agreement which sets out a basic agenda for the Forum and a framework for increased multilateral conversations between SNIJs was crafted by Island Innovation CEO James Ellsmoor, representatives of the Nevis Island Administration, the government of Curaçao, as well as Edison Rijna, Special Envoy for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, Saba islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean, who stated: “Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have worked together to increasingly gain more support and recognition on the international stage for access to climate finance. Their work is admirable, and their progress now highlights that there are many island communities within a jurisdictional grey zone where they do not hold SIDS status, face similar existing challenges, but lack clear access to climate financing pathways. Sub-National Island jurisdictions like ours are confronted by the same storms, droughts, and economic disruptions.. We need to work together as SNIJs and islanders to secure our future. This Forum will provide us a platform from which to build from.”

James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation, added: “We cannot let Sub-National Island Jurisdictions fall through the cracks of national and international policymaking. We must recognize that these countries and territories face different challenges, which require a different type of support than what is currently in place. Many island jurisdictions have identified solutions and pathways to long-term prosperity, and they need better access to the tools to complete them.”

The 2025 GSIS is set to be the most ambitious iteration of the event, reflecting the drive of the St Kitts and Nevis government through three days of high-level panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities centered around the host country’s Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA) and how it can be a replicable blueprint for other island communities. The summit will happen May 27-30, 2025, and will also feature several special forums, including the Island Youth Forum (May 25-26, St Kitts), Geothermal Energy Forum (May 26, Nevis), and the 1st Forum on Access to Climate Finance for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (May 30, Nevis).

With less than two months remaining before the start of the GSIS, over 50 speakers have been officially announced, including high-level government officials and experts from SNIJs, including:

• Reuben Meade, Premier of Montserrat;
• Fernando Clavijo, President of the Government of the Canary Islands
• E. Lady Alida Francis, Governor of Sint Eustatius;
• Albert Bryan Jr., Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands;
• Lourdes A. Leo Guerrero, Governor of Guam;
• Jache Adams, Minister of Public Works and Environment. Government of Bermuda;
• Edison Rijna, Special Envoy BES islands for EU and UN and Economic Development with Latin America and Caribbean;
• Vanessa Toré, Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Development, Government of Curaçao;