~Calls for Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling’s Resignation Grow Louder Amid Crime Surge and Government Inaction"~

PHILIPSBURG:--- St. Maarten’s crime crisis continues to spiral out of control, with the owner of Lotus Nightclub in Simpson Bay becoming the latest victim of a brazen armed robbery. The incident, which occurred on Friday evening, December 5th, around 9:00 PM, has left residents and business owners outraged and fearful as violent crime reaches unprecedented levels.
According to reports, the nightclub owner was held at gunpoint by a suspect who not only robbed them but also stole their vehicle. This shocking act of violence is just one in a string of recent robberies that have shaken the island. Early Saturday morning, Robbie’s Lottery main office was targeted in another robbery, and later that day, a jewelry store in the Maho area was attacked by a group of armed individuals dressed in black. The suspects smashed glass displays, looted the store, and fled the scene in a gray vehicle heading toward Lowlands. Adding to the chaos, a KFC restaurant was also smashed and robbed, further underscoring the brazen nature of these crimes.
Despite the alarming rise in crime, the government’s response has been marked by silence. Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling, who has faced growing criticism for her inability to address the island’s security crisis, has yet to make a public statement. Calls for her resignation are mounting, with residents and business owners accusing her of failing to protect the people of St. Maarten. After one year in office, Tackling’s tenure has been defined by a deteriorating justice system, unfulfilled promises to justice workers awaiting their LBs and back payments, and a crime rate that shows no signs of slowing down.
Adding to the public’s frustration is the absence of most elected officials, including several members of parliament and the Prime Minister, who are currently in the Netherlands. Their decision to leave the island during such a critical time has been met with widespread condemnation, as citizens feel abandoned by their leaders in the face of escalating violence.
Business owners, already struggling to recover from economic challenges, are now forced to contend with the added burden of protecting their livelihoods from criminals. Residents, too, are living in fear, with many questioning whether the government has any plan—or even the will—to restore safety and order.
The silence from the government is deafening, and the people of St. Maarten are demanding answers. How many more robberies, assaults, and acts of violence must occur before action is taken? Until the government steps up to address this crisis, the island remains gripped by fear, with no end to the chaos in sight.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Inspectorate of Taxes has announced that taxpayers previously granted an extension until Wednesday, December 31, now have until Monday, January 5, 2026, at 2:00 PM, to file and pay their 2024 Profit Tax Return, if applicable.

Taxpayers who fall under this extension are urged to take note of this updated deadline and ensure timely filing and payment to remain in compliance.

The 2024 Final Profit Tax Return and 2024 Final Profit Tax Form are available on the Government of St. Maarten’s website at www.sintmaartengov.org/Ministries/Finance/Pages/Profit-Tax-Forms.aspx and through government’s online services platform at onlineservices.sintmaartengov.org.

Filing must be completed at the Tax Administration Office located at the Vineyard Building. Payments can be made via bank transfer (XCG: WIB 324800-03 or RBC 820000005425048; USD: WIB 324800-05 or RBC 8200000430930461) or in cash, debit, or credit at the Receiver’s Office cashiers on Pond Island.

Additionally, the Sint Maarten Tax Administration informs the public that its offices, including the Receiver’s Office cashiers, will be closed for the holiday season from Wednesday, December 24, to Friday, December 26. The offices will close again from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to Friday, January 2, 2026. Regular operations will resume on Monday, January 5, 2026.

For inquiries, additional information, or assistance, please contact the Tax Administration by phone at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, or 542-3840, or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

PHILIPSBURG:---  Prime Minister Dr. Luc F.E. Mercelina has formally submitted a request to the Government of the Netherlands seeking support to address longstanding challenges within Sint Maarten’s police facilities. The request, directed to the State Secretary of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Mr. Eddie van Marum, emphasizes the importance of improving the infrastructure to ensure public safety, effective policing, and adherence to human rights standards across the Kingdom.

In his correspondence, the Prime Minister noted that Sint Maarten’s police facilities have faced systemic issues for many years, with deficiencies that predate both Hurricane Irma and the country’s constitutional transition in 2010.

“Sint Maarten’s police facilities are not designed or equipped in a manner that allows KPSM to meet its responsibilities under national and International law fully,” Prime Minister Dr. Mercelina stated, “Addressing these long-standing infrastructural shortcomings is essential to strengthening public safety and ensuring compliance with applicable human rights standards.”

The Prime Minister acknowledged the significant support previously provided by the Netherlands, particularly following Hurricane Irma, when repairs and improvements were financed through the Trust Fund and the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations. 

Despite these efforts, the progress reports associated with the Plan of Approach for the police and detention sectors continue to highlight substantial challenges.

“Fifteen years of monitoring through the Plan of approach process shows that although steps have been taken, key issues persist,” PM Dr. Mercelina noted.

“The most recent progress report again highlights concerns about KPSM’s ability to attract and retain personnel and to operate sustainably under the current conditions.”

A critical part of the Government’s request concerns the condition of the main police station, which is significantly affected by leaks, mold, and structural deterioration. These issues have also raised compliance concerns under national labor law and European human rights standards.

The temporary holding cells at the station—linked directly to requirements under the Plan of Approach—have been the subject of repeated concerns by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT). Ongoing repairs funded by the Netherlands are progressing, but independent engineering assessments have indicated that much larger investments will be required to bring the entire police station to an acceptable standard.

“Recent engineering assessments estimate that roughly USD 6.5 million would be needed to address the holding cells and the full building,” the Prime Minister explained.

“Given these figures, it is reasonable to assess whether constructing a new police station may be a more effective long-term solution.”

The Government of Sint Maarten expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation with the Netherlands, particularly the positive developments in the detention sector where construction of a new prison is expected to begin soon.

“Our joint work in the detention sector demonstrates that sustained collaboration yields tangible results,” PM Dr. Mercelina noted.

“We look forward to continuing this constructive approach as we consider solutions for the police facilities.”

“This is a Kingdom matter, and with shared responsibility comes shared action. Sint Maarten stands ready to work closely with the Netherlands on a sustainable and meaningful solution,” he concluded.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Sarah A. Wescot-Williams has submitted new correspondence to the government regarding the legal basis and current method of tariff setting for utility provider NV GEBE. Her latest questions were directed to either the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT) or the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment & Infrastructure (VROMI), given the overlapping references in legislation concerning price-setting authority and the Electricity Ordinance.

MP Wescot-Williams explained that her inquiries focus on identifying which minister is legally responsible for establishing electricity tariffs under the law, and whether the required national decree (LBHAM) governing those tariffs exists. She emphasized that the concession law for GEBE explicitly refers to tariffs, and does not exclude the fuel clause, meaning that the fuel clause charged to consumers may also need to be set by government decree.

“I want to ensure that I get a solid grasp of this matter in terms of the existence of the decree establishing all tariffs for GEBE, including the fuel clause. If no such decree exists, then I want to know how these tariffs are currently charged,” she stated.

The MP has requested that her questions be answered in a public Question Hour of Parliament, underscoring the importance of transparency in utility pricing.

In earlier correspondence, MP Wescot-Williams sought clarification from the Prime Minister on the concept of a social tariff for GEBE customers. She referenced the concession law, which allows the government to deviate from established tariffs on social grounds, as established by law.

However, she noted that if the government sets tariffs below GEBE’s production costs, the law requires the government to compensate the company for the difference.

In connection with this, she reiterated a previous suggestion that such compensation could be funded through the concession fee paid by GEBE, which is itself part of the company’s operational expenses.

Once the government provides full clarity on:
• the most recent decrees establishing tariffs,
• the legal basis for the fuel clause, and
• the position on social tariffs,
MP Wescot-Williams intends to table a draft amendment to the Electricity Concession Law.
This amendment would establish a structural, legal basis for social tariffs, including:
• lower tariffs for vulnerable households,
• special categories for social institutions such as schools, and
• guidelines for how government compensation to GEBE should be structured.

She reiterated the urgency of addressing the matter:

“I hope that the Question Hour can be scheduled before year’s end so we can move toward a structural basis for government-set tariff categories, including social institutions and residents who are most in need.”
MP Wescot-Williams awaits:
• the Prime Minister’s response regarding social tariffs, and
•
The responsible minister’s explanation of the legal establishment of current tariffs, including the fuel clause.

Following these responses, she is prepared to proceed with the draft amendment. “Concluding her statement, the MP reaffirmed that lasting, structural amendments to existing laws can only be achieved through close cooperation with the government—hence her ongoing engagement with the responsible ministries.”