SINT MAARTEN (COMMENTARY - By: Angelique Remy-Chittick) - A tourist jumped into a Facebook group earlier this week, bragging that the casinos in St. Maarten “don’t take out taxes on jackpots,” proudly sharing it as if he had discovered a hidden cheat code.

It was cute for him, but for anyone who understands the country’s financial reality, it was not a fun fact. It was a flashing warning light. “Tax free” does not mean that the island is generous. It means the tax framework is being stepped over, proper regulation is still not in place, and the St. Maarten Gaming Authority Board remains stuck in legislative limbo.

This also means that one of the most cash-heavy industries in the country continues to operate with limited dedicated oversight, while money that should be supporting national development is left sitting there as if it is on layaway. Here is the part that should surprise no one.

The International Monetary Fund stated this clearly in its 2021 Article IV assessment. St. Maarten has no modern, activity-based casino tax, and casino turnover and winnings are subject only to small levies that do not reflect real casino profits.

The IMF explicitly recommends taxing casino turnover and winnings as part of a sustainable tax reform package, confirming that the current fixed fees cannot be considered casino taxes in any meaningful sense. If that was not enough, the Minister of TEATT confirmed in Parliament that casinos owe the government about 17 million guilders in unpaid license and control fees.

The number is public and documented. The warnings could not be clearer; however, the response has been to whisper, delay, and schedule another meeting. While all of this is happening, the impact lands squarely on the people of St. Maarten. A winner walks out with every dollar of their jackpot because casinos do not withhold tax at the source, and there is still no modern regime to tax gambling winnings in line with international best practice.

The casinos walk away with full pockets. But the country? It’s left with potholes, stalled projects, underfunded programs, and a government that has the gall to bawl ‘we brokes’, even while leaving politically sensitive revenues untouched.

Tourist excitement is built on the back of a system that does not serve the people who bear the real cost. This is why the Gaming Authority Board cannot remain a talking point in speeches.

According to the Governor’s 2025 address, the feasibility study and legislative framework for the Authority are now complete, and the draft legislation is scheduled for submission in the 2026 legislative year. No one should hold their breath. Only St. Maarten could treat an important regulator as a side quest.

Meanwhile, casinos continue to operate under fragmented and overstretched supervision, a level of freedom that should concern anyone paying attention, especially with the international spotlight on anti-money laundering and tax compliance. These warnings are not new.

The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force has repeatedly flagged St. Maarten’s Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism framework 2 as needing serious improvement, with casinos listed among the high risk entities that require stronger preventive measures and closer supervision.

St. Maarten remains under enhanced follow-up, with authorities aiming for better ratings before 2026 to avoid the reputational and economic fallout of potential grey listing. This represents more than six years of documented risk, repeated technical findings, and slow political follow-through.

Part of the delay comes down to political arithmetic. Casino licenses are not merely pieces of paper. They are economic assets and bargaining tools that shape relationships behind the scenes. Public discussion in St. Maarten has long raised concerns about license leasing, unclear ownership structures, and the perception that gaming interests are too close to political campaigns and decision making.

When the industry that needs to be regulated is widely seen as a source of political leverage and quiet financial support, reform tends to move like a snail with a limp. This political entanglement is why enforcement alone is never enough. A regulator cannot properly supervise an industry that holds influence over the actors responsible for setting and enforcing rules.

The government must show that the people of St. Maarten matter more than the private benefits tied to casino licenses and the quiet influence that comes with them. Instead, the country is left with a Gaming Authority Board that performs better in presentations than in practice, while tourists keep spreading the word that St. Maarten is a jackpot paradise with no visible strings.

The tourist who sparked the conversation did not see the millions in unpaid fees, the outdated tax structure, or how little the casino sector contributes compared to its footprint. He celebrated something that looked like a loophole, but it was the product of decades of neglected reforms in taxation, supervision, and political transparency.

That neglect is the real problem. If St. Maarten wants a future that is stable, credible, and less dependent on outside support, the government must move beyond statements and intentions. Capacity may be limited and reforms may take time, but the tools that already exist must be used. The government must be honest about the future it is shaping.

Finalizing and operationalizing the Gaming Authority Board is only one step. The country also needs a modern tax framework, proper taxation of the gambling sector, stronger enforcement, and real follow-through on CFATF recommendations. None of these measures will take root unless political interests are finally separated from the industry they are meant to regulate.

Fairness matters here. The national budget is already stretched thin, and some sectors continue to benefit from the country’s infrastructure without contributing their share to its sustainability. When enforcement is soft and accountability is selective, those who try to comply end up carrying more than their fair share of the burden.

This imbalance limits the country’s ability to plan, invest, and deliver services and erodes public trust. 3 This brings the story back to the tourist. His excitement was not the issue. His excitement exposed the issue. Unpaid fees, weak supervision, slow political follow-through, and an outdated tax framework have created a system where loopholes feel like selling points.

That is the real warning sign. Until these problems are addressed, the St. Maarten Gaming Authority Board will remain more of a symbol than a solution, and the deeper issues will continue to repeat themselves. Tax-free jackpots may thrill visitors, but accountability is the real jackpot St. Maarten has yet to claim.

By: Angelique Remy-Chittick Financial Strategist & Consultant @Financial.ish

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Diabetes Foundation of Sint Maarten (DFS) is celebration November the Diabetes Month. On November 14 is International Diabetes Day.

The DFS program for Diabetes Month:

November 3, past Monday DFS tested seniors at the John Larmonie Center where about 165 seniors were tested and about 95 seniors this morning. Our tests consist of checking the Glucose level, Hypertension, Cholesterol and body Mass Index (BMI).

November 8, DFS will be testing at the Carrefour Supermarket at Bush Road from 9.00 a.m. to 12.00 noon.

November 14, International Diabetes Day DFS is organizing together with the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) a Symposium at John Larmonie Center where the general public is invited to come.

The symposium starts at 6.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. where DFS will be having doctors and medical staff, Dietitian, Diabetic nurse and specialist to come and speak about the Diabetes and their consequence.

November 15, DFS will be organizing a walkathon starting at Belair Center to go to Philipsburg and back via Bush Road to the Belair Center.

The walkathon will start at 6.00 am where WIEMS will be available for any help needed during the walkathon, and DFS will also have water-post during the walkathon.

November 22, DFS will be testing at the LIONS DEN where the Leos are organizing a health fair during the day.

All DFS events are free for the general public in support of Diabetes care and prevention here in St. Maarten.

“We would like to encourage the general public to continue testing on a regular basis, because you might have Diabetes and don’t know.

“Our aim as a foundation is to continue giving the necessary support and care to prevent Diabetes and increasing awareness on its consequences to the general public of St. Maarten.

“We would therefore welcome your presence at the symposium on International Diabetes Day on November 14 and your participation at our walkathon on November 15,” DFS said in a press statement on Thursday.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - The Department of Statistics (STAT) reports continued positive developments in the tourism sector for the second quarter of 2025.

Airport Passenger Arrivals Up

Because of the change in methodology, direct comparisons with data from previous years cannot be made.

To maintain some level of continuity during this transition and following the advice of PJIAE, STAT used the January to December 2024 airport arrival figures as a baseline, adjusted by deducting 10% to account for resident travelers. This adjustment is consistent with historical Immigration Office data collected over the past decade.

It should be noted that PJIAE has not traditionally served as the Department’s primary source for visitor arrival data, since their system provides only aggregated passenger counts and does not differentiate between residents and non-residents.

Although the methodologies differ, the adjusted 2024 estimate (using a deduction of 10% accounting for St. Maarten residents) provides a reasonable benchmark for approximate comparison. Without such an adjustment, only the total number of visitor arrivals in 2025 could be presented, without the context of growth figures or year-over-year changes.

Given the above-mentioned, St. Maarten recorded 209,876 airport passenger arrivals in Q2 2025. This represents a 16.9% increase compared to 179,552 for the same period in 2024.

This growth underscores the improved accuracy and reliability of arrival records, which are now based on consistently applied criteria that exclude Sint Maarten residents, transit passengers, and transfer passengers. STAT uses these figures as the official benchmark for passenger movements through Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE).

Cruise Passengers Arrivals Up
The cruise sector also posted similar results in Q2 2025. Preliminary data show that 236,391 cruise passengers arrived between April and June 2025, an increase of 14% compared to the 207,428 recorded during the same quarter in 2024.

This growth underscores St. Maarten’s position as a thriving port of call in the Caribbean.

Tourism Sector Outlook
Together, both air and cruise tourism indicators highlight a healthy and growing industry. Passenger movements provide insight into overall visitor traffic through the airport, while cruise arrivals reinforce St. Maarten’s strength as a hub for day visitors.

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – On Friday morning August 15, 2025, Tropical Storm Erin was upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane. Hurricane Erin is the first hurricane for the season, and it continues to make its way across the eastern Atlantic Ocean towards the Leeward Islands.

The Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten (MDS), said on Friday that a Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for Sint Maarten until further notice. A watch is issued when tropical storm conditions of sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour are possible within a specified area within 48 hours.

MDS says Erin is expected to pass at its closest point approximately 150 miles north of Sint Maarten on Saturday, August 16, 2025.

The Government of Sint Maarten is advising all residents and visitors to take immediate precautionary measures as Hurricane Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, moves west-northwest in the direction of the St. Maarten.

As of the 11:00 a.m. advisory from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Erin is a Category 1 hurricane located at 18.2° N, 56.1° W, approximately 460 miles east of the St. Maarten, with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph.

In preparation for the potential impact, all Government offices will close today at 12:00 p.m. This decision is to allow civil servants time to secure their homes and ensure the safety of their families. The closure of the private sector remains at the discretion of individual employers.

The public is urged to:

Secure all outdoor items, including furniture, construction materials, and garbage bins.

Remove or dismantle billboards, banners, and temporary signage to prevent them from becoming dangerous projectiles.

Clear drainage ditches and yard gutters to reduce flood risk.

Stock up on essential supplies including potable water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, and batteries.

Avoid unnecessary travel once weather conditions begin to deteriorate.

Business owners should secure storefront glass, ensure signage is firmly anchored or removed, check rooftop installations, and ensure backup power sources are functional and fueled.

Visitors are advised to follow all guidance from their accommodation providers, avoid beaches from tonight onward due to high surf and dangerous rip currents, and monitor official communications from the Government, the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten and the office of Disaster Management.

Based on the NHC forecast, tropical storm conditions are possible in Sint Maarten as early as Saturday morning, August 16, with winds between 40–50 mph and gusts up to 60 mph possible. Rainfall totals of 2–4 inches, with isolated amounts up to 6 inches, may result in flash flooding and localized landslides in vulnerable areas. Seas are expected to reach 10–15 feet, creating dangerous surf and rip currents along east- and north-facing shores.

Honorable Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina stated, “The safety of our people and visitors is our highest priority. While the forecast indicates that Hurricane Erin will pass north of our island, the potential for strong winds, heavy rains, and rough seas is very real. We must be prepared at all times as we in the peak of the hurricane season.”

He further urged timely action, “I am calling on residents and business owners to secure their properties, remove loose items, and follow all official advisories. The time to prepare is now, not when the winds begin to blow. Together, we can reduce the risks and protect lives.”

PM Dr. Mercelina also addressed the private sector, “While the decision to close remains with individual employers, I encourage businesses to consider early release, so employees have time to make their homes safe and assist their families. Preparedness is a shared responsibility.”

Residents and the business community should continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Erin and to make sure their property is storm/hurricane ready.

Monitor local weather reports from MDS: www.meteosxm.com or visit their social media page Facebook.com/sxmweather/ in connection with the approach of the weather system.

For more information on hurricane preparedness and to find a list of official resources, please visit the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your “Hurricane Season Readiness Guide’ and “Hurricane Tracking Chart” or you can use the following link: https://shorturl.at/VbaxC

Listen to the Government Radio station – SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during and after a hurricane. You can also follow weather related news and information as well as national addresses by the Prime Minister, chairperson of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) by going to @SXMGOV Facebook Page.

Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Remain vigilant and prepared!