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Frans Calls On Pm To ‘Shut Gibson Up’

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Monday night urged Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin to finally “put to bed and shut up” Minister of Finance Richard Gibson who, according to Richardson, is “becoming rude and bold in this country.”

Marlin and Gibson

Richardson tore into Gibson during the USp’s public meeting on Monday night, chastising him for not taking care of workers in his places of business for many years, but quick to talk down colleague MP’s of the current coalition government Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Leader of the United St. Maarten (US) party MP Frans Richardson on Monday night urged Prime Minister of St. Maarten William Marlin to finally "put to bed and shut up" Minister of Finance Richard Gibson who, according to Richardson, is "becoming rude and bold in this country."

Richardson tore into Gibson during the USp's public meeting on Monday night, chastising him for not taking care of workers in his places of business for many years, but quick to talk down colleague MP's of the current coalition government Read more

Chinese To Develop 326-Room Hotel, 450 Apartments In Belair

Source: The Daily Herald

POND ISLAND–A 326-room hotel with a showroom and 450 executive apartments will be constructed on the Belair beachfront by a Chinese public-private venture. Plans for the “Pearl of China” project have already approved by Government and the ground-breaking for the project is slated for September 17, and should take some two years to complete.

This multi-million dollar project, for which the Chinese bought the land that was for the shelved Barbaron development, was announced by Finance Minister Richard Gibson Sr Read more

Los Chinos Construirán 326 Habitaciones De Hotel Y 450 Apartamentos En Belair

Traducido por Máximo Castro

POND ISLAND.– Un hotel de 326 habitaciones con una sala de exposición y 450 apartamentos ejecutivos serán construidos frente a la playa de Belair, por una empresa público-privada china. Los planes para el proyecto “Perla de China” ya ha aprobado por el Gobierno y el primer picazo para el inicio de la construcción del proyecto está programado para el 17 de septiembre y la construcción de este proyecto está planificado a terminarse en dos años.

Este proyecto de varios millones de dólares, para el que los chinos compraron la tierra, fue anunciado por el ministro de Finanzas Richard Gibson Sr Read more

Chinese to invest in St. Maarten to boost tourism economy.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. who is contesting the Parliamentary Elections on September 26th kicked off his political campaign Thursday night with a town hall meeting that was held at the University of St. Martin.
Gibson who has been in office close to nine months managed to present the two balanced budgets both 2016 and 2017, the latter for the first time in history the budget was presented and approved on time.
On Thursday night, Gibson brought forward the stark reality to those that attended the town hall meeting what St Read more

Gov’T Will Have Final Say In Appointment Of Board Members To Government Owned Companies

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Council of Ministers will now have the final say in the selection of board members for government owned companies and foundations. Minister Richard Gibson said this decision was taken by the Council of Ministers this week, due to the wanton appointment of board members to government owned companies with little or no input from the Council of Ministers.

“A decision was taken going forward that all appointees to all government corporations, foundations, will not take place without the consent and approval of the Council of Ministers,” Minister Gibson announced.

Minister Gibson suggested that the appointment of board members for quite some time has been done with no input from the government which is the main shareholder and that it was time this practice stopped.

“We have seen a tendency of people being appointed to government boards…that the Council of Ministers sit back and have no say in Read more

Sxm Has Balanced Budget For 2017

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — St. Maarten has a balanced budget for 2017, announced Minister of Finance Richard Gibson at the Council of Ministers press briefing on Wednesday. “For the first time in history, St. Maarten has presented a balanced budget for 2017 according to the stipulations in the law.

That budget has been presented to the Council of Ministers and it has been passed (Tuesday) by the Council of Ministers,” he said Read more

What Hanky Panky With Ats Foundation --- Is There A Conflict Of Interest Brewing Under The People’S Nose?

PHILIPSBURG:--- The Audit Team St. Maarten (ATS) foundation that was registered under number 24142 on July 20th, 2016 at the Chamber of Commerce St. Maarten shows that the ATS is a foundation registered on St. Maarten to conduct audit taxes and social security premiums. Based on the Chamber registration it shows that the ATS is operating at the USZV location. Indeed USZV has a three-year contract with BAP whose workers is stationed at USZV office, they are also using USZV vehicles. However, it is not clear where the ATS fits in, and how they are being paid Read more

No one can be appointed to positions on government-owned companies without the approval of the COM

PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. announced on Wednesday at the Council of Minister's press briefing that St. Maarten has made history because for the first time St. Maarten has presented a balanced budget on time to the Council of Ministers which was approved on Tuesday Read more

Mp Tamara Leonard Questions Financial Impact On Effective Functioning Of Justice Chain

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten  –  Member of Parliament (MP) Tamara Leonard has questioned the impact of Government’s flagging financial state on the effective functioning of the country’s justice chain via a letter to both Finance Minister Richard Gibson and Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo. 

Leonard of the United People’s (UP) party stated in her letter she was directing the questions both ministers “considering the severity of the situation” based on information she has gathered Read more

Civil Servants should not pay for government mismanagement.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr told parliament on Monday that the former government has NAF33M sitting on an account and did not invest it, or even used it to finalize the government administration building Read more

Leona Questions Gibson Over Back Tax Deduction

PHILIPSBURG--The abrupt deduction of back taxes from civil servants has been queried by independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo via letter to Finance Minister Richard Gibson Read more

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM) — Minister of Finance Richard Gibson meets with Mr. Julian Ramirez and Professor Peter Kavelaars , Managing Partners of Deloitte in the Dutch Caribbean and the Netherlands, to present their latest book on levying taxation in Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao and the BES islands. The book “Het fiscale stelsel in het Caribisch Koninkrijk” describes and analyses the tax systems of all countries in the Caribbean under the Dutch Kingdom Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. told members of the media on Wednesday that last week when he announced that NGO’s (foundations or associations) does not have to file profit tax his announcement was taken out of context by some and they have been getting a little bit over zealous. He said those NGOs do have to pay their TOT and wage taxes but they are exempted from profit tax. He made clear on Wednesday that NGO’s will only be exempted from profit tax and not wage taxes and other dues Read more

PHILIPSBURG: --- Minister of VSA Emil Lee tried to bring clarity about the press release sent on by the former chairman of the Supervisory Board of Directors of USZV. Minister Lee said he has lots of respect for Dr. Petit who is a great professional in his field of medicine. However, the statements in the press release issued by Dr. Petit the Minister said that he only had three meetings with the former chairman of the SOBD of USZV Dr Read more

Foresee Thanks Finance Minister For Revisited Tax Legislation For Non-Profits

PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — It’s with great pleasure and gratitude that the Foresee (4C) Foundation read the recent communication through our local media that the Minister of Finance has taken a firm decision to adjust the legislation on filing taxes, understandably under certain conditions.

Believing in the 4Cs of Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical thinking, we sincerely thank all persons and entities who have played a crucial role in this process, “foreseeing,” recognizing and acknowledging the crucial role that non-profit NGOs and numerous volunteers make for the betterment of St Read more

Foresee Foundation Thanks The Minister Of Finance And All Who Revisited Tax Legislation For Non-Profit Foundations

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten - It’s with great pleasure and gratitude that the Foresee (4C) Foundation read the recent communication through our local media that the Minister of Finance has taken a firm decision to adjust the legislation on filing taxes, understandably under certain conditions.

Believing in the 4Cs of Communication, Collaboration, Creativity and Critical thinking, we sincerely thank all persons and entities who have played a crucial role in this process, “foreseeing”, recognizing and acknowledging the crucial role that non-profit NGOs and numerous volunteers make for the betterment of St Read more

New Draft Legislation To Extend Timeframe On Tax Arbitrary Assessment

PHILIPSBURG – A legislation is being drafted by Finance Minister Richard Gibson relating to arbitrary assessment of taxes.

“For instance, if in a normal course of event had you filed (taxes), you would have NAf. 1,000 bill to pay as far as taxes are concerned. But you didn’t file, the Tax Department can impose an arbitrary assessment and give (an assessment of) NAf Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- A decision was taken at the shareholders meeting of the Central Bank on Thursday where the dividends from the Central Bank will be divided and St. Maarten will get its share of NAF.10M confirmed Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr. Minister Gibson said the decision was taken Thursday afternoon. However, he could not give an exact date as to when those monies will reach St Read more

PHILIPSBURG:--- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Richard Gibson Sr announced on Wednesday during the Council of Minister's press conference that the Council of Ministers on Tuesday amended the legislation for foundations. Minister Gibson said in 2015 the parliament of St. Maarten passed a law that has some undesirable consequences for foundations and as such all foundations has to file taxes and this placed a heavy burden on the foundations that have to pay for the services of accountants.
The Minister said that there are foundations that are performing community services while some are conducting businesses.
He said those foundations that are performing services for the community and also helps with social issues within the community Read more

St. Maarten looking to collect the Central Bank dividends.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson will be travelling to Curacao as early as today (Wednesday) to meet with the Minister of Finance to discuss the way forward regarding the President of the Central Bank of St. Maarten and Curacao Emsley Tromp.
Gibson told reporters that as reported in the news last week Tromp’s home was searched and he is currently under investigation and as such they believe that it would be wise for them to suspend him from his position until the investigation is completed Read more

Gov’T Looking To Retrieve Overdue Taxes From Smmc To Supplement 2017 Revenue

PHILIPSBURG – The Government of St. Maarten will be looking at ways to increase government revenue so as to meet targets ahead of the 2017 island budget.

Minister of Finance Richard Gibson in Wednesday’s, August 10, Council of Ministers press briefing identified two steps by the government to supplement the budget. One is casino fees indexation and the other is retrieving overdue taxes estimated at NAf Read more

Gibson Working On Resolving Division Of Assets Issue

PHILIPSBURG РMinister of Finance Richard Gibson was expected to meet with his counterpart in Cura̤ao on Wednesday, August 10, in Cura̤ao to finalize matters pertaining to the division of assets between St. Maarten and Cura̤ao, and for St. Maarten to gets its fair share.

Minister Gibson was expected to leave the island on Wednesday to meet with the Minister overnight and return to St. Maarten on Thursday morning – less than 24 hours later Read more

Finance Minister Will Be Meeting With Curacao Finance Minister To Discuss St. Maarten’S Shares On The Division Assets.

Dutch Government did not live up to its promise to send Curacao Minister of Finance a letter on the Division of Assets.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Richard Gibson is planning to travel to Curacao as early as Wednesday to meet with the Minister of Finance there to further discuss the division of assets and the amounts of monies owed to St. Maarten. Gibson told reporters last week that the Dutch Government had promised to send a letter to Curacao Finance Minister but to date, they have not done so even though he has been in touch with them to remind them of the promises made to St Read more