Dear Editor, In a small island state like Sint Maarten, government decisions are felt directly by residents and businesses. At this moment, the legal position of taxpayers is under pressure. Not because the tax laws are weak, but because objections to tax assessments are not being handled on time.

Dear Editor, The need for tax reform in St. Maarten is undeniable. With a fragile economy, limited revenue streams, and increasing reliance on external funding, a fairer and more stable tax system is not a luxury but a necessity. However, the current approach risks doing more harm than good. The recent proposal by former Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion is a stark example: a narrow reform of the profit tax, without an integrated plan for the broader fiscal framework.

Much is written about bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum and various other currencies, or better known as: cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrency also seems to be on the rise on Sint Maarten. Cryptocurrency is increasingly used as a means of payment -among others in various businesses (bars, restaurants)- on Sint Maarten and as an investment. The value of the various cryptocurrencies has fallen sharply in recent weeks, but public interest in crypto does not seem to be waning.