PHILIPSBURG:---  Member of Parliament Lyndon Lewis is calling on the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Telecommunication and Traffic (TEATT), Grisha Heyligar-Martin, to take immediate and decisive action to address the worsening traffic congestion affecting the island, warning that continued inaction could have serious consequences for residents, businesses, and the country’s vital tourism industry.
According to MP Lewis, traffic congestion has escalated significantly in several key areas, particularly during peak commuting hours and periods of high tourist activity. Daily commuters, emergency services, public transportation users, and visitors are increasingly experiencing delays that impact productivity, safety, and overall quality of life.
“This issue has grown beyond being a simple inconvenience. It is now a national concern that requires urgent attention,” MP Lewis stated. “Persistent traffic congestion places unnecessary strain on our citizens, delays emergency response times, and negatively affects economic activity.”
To address the issue, MP Lewis is urging the Minister responsible for traffic to engage in discussions with her colleague Ministers, as the traffic issue can be remedied on an inter-ministerial level to implement practical and immediate measures. These include deploying police officers with the assistance of the VKS at key congested intersections, enforcing regulations requiring buses to use designated bus stops, and improving road design with clearer signage and lane markings. “In the past, we had the control unit regulating the traffic in key traffic-congested areas. The resurrection of this department is necessary,” MP Lewis stated.
He also emphasized the importance of promoting public transportation to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road, particularly during peak hours. “Many Taxi drivers have reached out to me regarding the traffic congestion, and some stated that when flights land, sometimes there is not enough taxi transportation available at the airport because many drivers are stuck in traffic.”
MP Lewis emphasized that addressing traffic congestion requires urgency, cooperation, and political will. “This is not about placing blame, but about taking responsibility and acting in the best interest of our people and our economy,” he stated.
MP Lewis concluded by calling for decisive government action, noting that failure to act could ultimately harm the country’s reputation and economic stability. “The time to act is now, before the consequences become far more damaging,” he stated.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in an urgent Public meeting on January 8, 2026.

The Public meeting was adjourned on November 5, 2025, and will be reconvened on Thursday at 11.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The Minister of Finance will be in attendance.

The agenda point is:
Deliberations on the issues surrounding the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten
a. The recent nomination of the Chairman of the CBCS by the Council of Ministers
b. An update on the ENNIA situation
c. Developments concerning Mullet Bay (IS/092/2025-2026 dated September 22, 2025)

This meeting was requested by MP E.J. Doran, MP A.M.R. Irion, MP D.T.J. York, MP O.E.C. Ottley and MP F.A. Lacroes.

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament and www.pearlfmradio.sx

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor, Mr. Richinel Brug, is pleased to confirm that SZV Social & Health Insurances will reopen its doors for in-person services for senior citizens beginning in the week of Monday, January 26, 2026.
Earlier announcements confirmed that SZV had agreed to implement Senior Priority Hours after recognizing that many seniors were encountering difficulties with online support options. Face-to-face assistance is critical to ensuring dignity, respect, and accessible support for older residents — a priority that Minister Brug has emphasized throughout his tenure.
“I am proud to share that SZV has agreed to offer dedicated in-person service for our seniors, without the need for appointments,” said Minister Brug. “As stated before our elderly population deserves direct, respectful, and accessible support, not only digital options. I thank SZV for responding swiftly to my request and for making the necessary adjustments to ensure this is once again possible.”
The in-person senior services will commence on Monday January 26th and begin as a soft opening, allowing SZV to continue finalizing preparations to ensure that the facility is not only operational but also fully senior-proof — with features designed to improve comfort, accessibility, and overall experience for elderly clients.
A centralized service area is being created so seniors no longer have to navigate multiple parts of the building for different services. Minister Brug reaffirmed that this action is part of a broader commitment to strengthen community services and to ensure that older persons in Sint Maarten receive compassionate, accessible support. Further details and service arrangements will be communicated directly by SZV as preparations continue.

PHILIPSBURG:---  The Sint Maarten Tax Administration is pleased to inform the public that several key tax documents for the year 2025 are now available on the Government of Sint Maarten website. These documents, which apply to both individuals and businesses, can be easily accessed and downloaded.

For individuals, the available documents include the 2025 Income Tax Return Form IB Model A and the 2025 Income Tax Return Form IB Model B. Both income tax return forms are due on June 1, 2026.

Businesses are advised that the Opgaaf Werkzaamheden Derden 2025 and the Verzamelloonstaat 2025 forms are also available. The filing deadline for these documents has been adjusted to February 2, 2026, as the original deadline of January 31 falls on a weekend.

Additionally, businesses can access the 2025 Provisional Profit Tax Return Form, which is due on March 31, 2026. The 2025 Final Profit Tax Return Form and the 2025 Profit Tax Return are both due on June 30, 2026.

Taxpayers are encouraged to visit the Government’s website at
https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Pages/Taxes-and-Forms.aspx to download the relevant documents and ensure the timely filing of their tax returns.

For more information or assistance, please contact the Tax Administration by telephone at 542-2143, 542-3782, 542-3839, or 542-3840, via WhatsApp at 556-3699, or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..