PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Sarah Wescot Williams announced on Wednesday at the Council of Ministers' weekly press briefing that the Council of Ministers adopted the advice submitted by the Ministry of General Affairs to establish a protocol guide for foreign dignitaries and consuls when visiting St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said based on the Vienna Convention, countries are supposed to take into consideration the treatment as far as the treatment of consular posts and other foreign dignitaries. The Prime Minister said her Ministry looked at the Vienna Convention and drafted a protocol guide. "The proposal also includes that these visiting functionaries will have a specific identification card establishing their position in St. Maarten. Wescot Williams said based on that convention there are certain immunities and privileges that are granted to consular functionaries and other such personnel of another country while in the country of business, in this case St. Maarten.
Wescot Williams said that there are two pieces of legislation that have to be looked at, which are the legislation regulating identification cards and the tax legislation because there are also some specific regulations that apply for foreign consular and other such personnel. Wescot Williams further explained that government still has to work on the legislation but the guide has been established.
When asked by SMN News if these foreign dignitaries (consuls) that conduct financial transactions would now have to pay taxes on St. Maarten for the services they provide locally. The Prime Minister said that the protocol has been established but the process on changing (amending) the legislation still has to take place. Wescot Williams said that the protocol outlines the activities of the visiting consuls but when it comes to financial transaction and taxes, the country for which the consul is representing will be charging them with their activities. She said the protocol only establishes the treatment these people receive when they are on St. Maarten and ensures there is no other legislation that is in conflict with the Treaty of Vienna.
It is clear that the Government of St. Maarten is silently putting some regulations in place not only to protect foreign dignitaries when they are on the island but they are also looking at ways to ensure business is done in accordance with the law by the visiting consuls.
Some months ago, SMN News broke an article where a Guyanese General Consul was authorized to visit St. Maarten and he was conducting financial business in his hotel room in Maho. When the story broke the Prime Minister herself and the Government of Guyana attacked SMN News reporter claiming that the Guyanese Consul entered the country legally. SMN News understands that back then the Government of Guyana threatened St. Maarten by using parts of the Vienna Convention which gives dignitaries including consuls special privileges.
One week Extension Granted for Vehicle Owners to Purchase Number Plates.
The Prime Minister also announced on Wednesday that she managed to convince the Minister of Finance to grant vehicle owners one week after the deadline to purchase their number plates. Wescot Williams said she discussed the matter in the Council of Ministers because she felt it was necessary for vehicle owners to get some more time because February is a short month and some people do not get paid until the 1st or 2nd of the new month. Therefore, it was necessary to give people a little bit more time so they could purchase their number plates before the heavy controls start.
Wescot Williams urged vehicle owners to comply and to purchase their number plates because after the first week of March ends she will not have any argument to put forward to the Minister of Finance in order for him to grant anymore extensions.
The Minister of Finance Martin Hassink announced earlier that the deadline would be February 28th, 2014 and that he will not grant extensions. Minister Hassink made clear that those persons who did not buy their number plates in 2013 should not laugh yet because actions will be taken against them when they are caught.