Philipsburg:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams addressed the letter sent to her by Minister Ronald Plasterk on February 8th, 2013. Wescot Williams said many twists have been given to the letter that was sent to her, she said visited the Netherlands in December 2012 and during that meeting several points were raised such as St. Maarten's financial situation and the relationship between St. Maarten and the BES islands. Wescot Williams said even though the Minister raised the points he clearly did not have all the information surrounding the issues. Wescot Williams said during that meeting the Minister indicated to her that he would have secured more information on the issues and he would then discuss them again when he visited the island in January 2013. St. Maarten's Prime Minister said that when the Council of Ministers met with Minister Plasterk on January 22nd they provided much information on the issues he tabled when she met with him in December 2012 in the Netherlands.
Wescot Williams said the situation surrounding WINAIR was extensively explained to the Minister since the Netherlands (BES) owned a minority share in the company. Wescot Williams said that the Council of Ministers on St. Maarten gave Minister Plasterk the history of WINAIR and they also provided information on the other issues the Minister raised. She said when St. Maarten asked Minister Plasterk to provide specifics he still did not have sufficient information. She said at that meeting an agreement was made with the Minister where he agreed to gather all the necessary information from his civil service and send St. Maarten the answers in writing to the Council of Ministers. Wescot Williams said in certain media in the Netherlands it is stated that Minister Plasterk is calling the Prime Minister of St. Maarten to order. Wescot Williams said that she will not react in the same tone as Minister Plasterk but she wants the Minister to know that prior to the BES there was SSS (Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten). She said she wants the Minister to know that the relationship between the three islands goes back way beyond the BES that became an integral part of the Netherlands.
Another issue Minister Plasterk addressed is some sort of double indirect taxes. Wescot Williams said St. Maarten is not levying any double indirect taxes. She said the Dutch Government decided to levy their general revenue taxes on the BES islands. Wescot Williams said that the Council of Ministers explained Minister Plasterk that the Turn over Tax (TOT) on St. Maarten is not the same as Value Added Tax (VAT). She said St. Maarten ensured that businesses on St Maarten do not incorporate the TOT as if it is a sales tax or value added tax.
The Council of Ministers also discussed the issues affecting the medical helicopter. She said that they are trying to find out who is really responsible for the hiccups regarding the medical helicopter.
Regarding the issue of the fiber optic cable, Wescot Williams said that the government of St. Maarten explained the Minister that St. Maarten (TELEM) invested a lot of money to have its own fiber optic cable and having another one could be to the detriment to St. Maarten. However, the Dutch Minister feels that the issue of the fiber optic cable is a business venture.
She said at the time this matter was discussed the courts had ordered St. Maarten to give the BES (Netherlands ) a response on their request to pass their fiber optic cable through St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said St. Maarten was busy gathering information such as environmental impact. She said despite all of that both parties came up with alternatives to make it a win–win situation.
Finance Minister Roland Tuitt also addressed the letter on Wednesday by informing reporters that Minister Plasterk wrote a letter to the second chamber and he indicated to them that he will send St. Maarten a letter in which he would address the issues and he would also provide solutions (recommendations) to St. Maarten. Tuitt said that while the Minister sent St. Maarten a letter there were no recommendations or solutions.
