PHILIPSBURG:--- During a recent budget debate in Sint Maarten, Member of Parliament (MP) Ardwell Irion commended efforts to promote the island and stimulate tourism in the off-peak (low) season. However, he raised several critical questions and concerns:
Funding for the Soul Beach Festival
MP Irion questioned how the responsible Minister managed to secure “millions” of guilders or dollars to support the Soul Beach Festival despite there being no approved budget when the payment was made.
He pointed out the apparent contradiction between finding large sums for a festival and the frequent government statement that there is “no money” when it comes to other essential payments.
Payments for Teachers, School Subsidies & Justice Workers
According to MP Irion, when it comes to paying teachers, providing school subsidies, and meeting potential payment obligations for justice workers, the government’s position has often been that there is no approved budget. Hence, there are no available funds.
This disparity in funding priorities led him to question whether the money was truly unavailable or how the government chose to allocate resources.
French Side’s Financial Contribution
MP Irion also questioned whether the French side of the island contributed its share to the costs of the Soul Beach Festival or if the Government of Sint Maarten solely carried the bill.
This issue touches upon the broader theme of cooperation (or lack thereof) between the two sides of the island when it comes to major events intended to boost tourism.
Overall, MP Irion’s remarks highlight concerns about transparency and consistency in government spending priorities. He acknowledges the importance of attracting tourism during the low season but insists that teachers, schools, and justice workers should not be sidelined—especially if funding can be made available for large-scale events like the Soul Beach Festival.
MP Ardwell Irion expressed concern that the government continues to complain about its lack of funds and inability to meet financial obligations while, according to MP Darryl York, it waived over ten million dollars in fees from casinos and lottery companies. Under the previous administration, agreements were in place requiring these entities to remain up to date with their fee payments and to pay down any backlog monthly, prompting Irion to question why this arrangement was suddenly canceled and why the benefit applied only to casinos and lotteries rather than small businesses as well. He further asked whether individuals or other businesses would similarly be allowed to have their tax backlogs waived. It has come to the attention of this media house that one alleged lottery license was exempted from fees between 2014 and 2021 because it was inactive and never operated. In contrast, current operational businesses with the ability to pay had agreed to do so.
