PHILIPSBURG:---  Parliament of Sint Maarten recorded seven draft national ordinances submitted during the 2025–2026 Parliamentary Year, but only one ordinance was recorded as passed during the same reporting period, according to Parliament’s latest Annual Report.

The figures show a sharp decline in completed legislation compared with the previous parliamentary year.

In 2024–2025, Parliament recorded five draft national ordinances submitted and five passed. In 2023–2024, Parliament submitted ten and passed four. For 2025–2026, seven were submitted, while only one was recorded as passed.

The number recorded as passed therefore fell from five in 2024–2025 to one in 2025–2026—an 80% decline.

Passed Ordinance Was Carried Over

The figures must be interpreted carefully because legislation submitted and legislation passed during a parliamentary year do not necessarily belong to the same legislative group.

Draft ordinances can remain before Parliament for several years before reaching a final vote.

The only ordinance recorded as passed in 2025–2026 was the National Ordinance establishing rules for a basic payment account for consumers. Parliament’s report identifies it as legislative file 2023–2024-174, meaning it originated during an earlier parliamentary year.

It was accepted on January 9, 2026, during a continuation of Public Meeting No. 11 from the 2024–2025 Parliamentary Year.

None of the seven draft national ordinances newly submitted during 2025–2026 are listed in the report as having been passed during that same period.

Seven Ordinances Entered the Pipeline

The seven draft ordinances submitted during 2025–2026 addressed:

1. The withdrawal of obsolete tax ordinances;
2. Supervision of payment service providers;
3. Supervision of virtual asset service providers;
4. Oversight of payment and securities-settlement systems;
5. Supervision of clearing and settlement-system operators;
6. Repairs and harmonization involving social and health insurance legislation; and
7. The national budget for 2026.

Several proposals concern the supervision and modernization of Sint Maarten’s financial sector, including payment services, virtual assets, clearing systems, and securities-settlement infrastructure.

These are significant legislative matters with implications for financial regulation, compliance, consumer protection and the country’s standing within the wider financial system.

Legislative Output Deserves Scrutiny

Parliament’s legislative role is a fundamental constitutional responsibility.

Draft national ordinances may require committee consideration, written questions, government responses, legal advice, amendments and deliberation in a Public Meeting before reaching a final vote.

A delay does not automatically mean Parliament failed to perform its duties. Complex legislation may require extensive examination, and progress can also be delayed while Parliament awaits answers, legal advice, amendments, or further action from government.

However, Parliament’s own figures demonstrate that relatively little legislation reached final passage during the 2025–2026 reporting period.

Seven draft ordinances entered the parliamentary pipeline, but the only ordinance recorded as passed was legislation carried over from an earlier parliamentary year.

That raises several questions Parliament should answer:

• How many draft national ordinances remain pending?
• How long has each pending ordinance been before Parliament?
• At what stage is each proposal?
• Which bills are awaiting government answers or legal advice?
• What is preventing more legislation from reaching a final vote?

Sint Maarten is regularly confronted with demands to modernize outdated laws in taxation, financial services, energy, justice, healthcare and social policy. The speed and efficiency with which legislation moves through Parliament are therefore matters of legitimate public concern.

The annual report does not, by itself, explain why only one draft national ordinance reached final passage. It does, however, establish the central fact: Parliament recorded seven ordinances submitted during 2025–2026, while only one—carried over from an earlier parliamentary year—was recorded as passed.

PHILIPSBURG:---   The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is investigating a series of burglaries at the Festival Village on Soualiga Road, where seven booths were reportedly broken into overnight.

According to KPSM, the burglaries are believed to have occurred during the early morning hours of Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Festival Village manager subsequently filed an official complaint with police.

Detectives and personnel from KPSM’s Forensic Department are investigating the break-ins and collecting evidence.

Police have not yet disclosed what was stolen from the booths or whether they have identified any suspects.

KPSM is asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in or around the Festival Village during the early morning hours, or who has information that could assist investigators, to contact the Police Force at 542-2222 or anonymously through the 9300 tip line.

Police emphasized that even information that may appear insignificant could prove important to the investigation and encouraged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

The naval vessel HNLMS Friesland arrived in the port of Willemstad today. After a three-month period in the Netherlands, HNLMS Friesland has returned to the Caribbean to take over the role of station ship from HNLMS Groningen. The ship will patrol the region in the coming months and stand ready to provide emergency assistance.

HNLMS Groningen conducted patrols in the Caribbean over the past few months. As the station ship, it served as the eyes and ears of Defense at sea in the Caribbean Region and has been mapping the security situation through its monitoring activities. The ship also supported the Caribbean Coast Guard in detecting and intercepting drug shipments.

Earthquake in Venezuela

In late June, HNLMS Groningen contributed to relief efforts following the earthquakes in Venezuela. The station ship transported tens of thousands of kilograms of relief supplies to the affected areas, including drinking water, food, and medical supplies for the injured and for people who had lost their homes.

With the presence of a station ship in the region, the Dutch Armed Forces contribute to peace and security in the Caribbean Region.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Tax Administration joined the Literacy Month celebrations on Thursday, September 10, with visits to a third-grade class at the Methodist Agogic Center (MAC) JAG Campus in Betty’s Estate and a fourth-grade class at Asha Stevens Hillside Christian School (ASHCS) in Cay Hill, where students participated in reading activities while learning more about the role of the Tax Administration.

Mr. Kelron Bellot, Public Relations Officer, and Ms. Shanyca Colastica, Front Office Clerk, led the visits. During both visits, students listened to stories, participated in discussions, and interacted with the team during the reading sessions.

The students also learned, in an age-appropriate way, what taxes are and how the funds collected support public services and the development of Sint Maarten. As part of the activities, they coloured drawings of the Tax Administration's logo and the Vineyard Office location. The sessions ended with students proudly displaying their artwork and receiving Tax Administration pens and cookies.

The Tax Administration gives special thanks to Tr. Fabiana from MAC and Tr. Richardson from ASHCS for their cooperation and for welcoming the team into their classrooms.