PCCA given presentation on seven
Ministries of Country St. Maarten
OYSTER POND--The plans of the organisational structure, policies, necessary financing and necessary legislation for the seven Ministries of Country St. Maarten were presented on Monday during an extraordinary meeting of the Permanent Committee for Constitutional Affairs in the Soualiga Room of Westin St. Maarten Dawn Beach Resort and Spa.
Constitutional Affairs Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams said in a press briefing after the meeting that the sector directors of the Government of St. Maarten had given the presentation on the new Ministries.
Country St. Maarten will have seven Ministries: General Affairs; Economy; Labour Affairs; Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports; Housing, Physical Planning and the Environment; Public Health and Social Affairs; and Justice.
A presentation was also given by Cassandra Jansen of the island secretariat of the Island Territory of St. Maarten on the secretariat for the Parliament of St. Maarten. Former Minister of Constitutional Affairs Richard Gibson gave the presentation for the Ministry of Justice.
St. Maarten will need extra personnel to man the various departments falling under the Ministries. As an example, Wescot-Williams said Sector Economic Affairs currently employed 166 people, but the departments resorting under the future Ministry of Economic Affairs would need 226 persons.
She also said the Ministries of Justice and Finance would have to be set up from scratch.
“For example, the new tax set-up for country St. Maarten will be totally different compared to the current situation. Finance is an important aspect for all Ministries; the monies necessary to realise all of the plans and activities presented and how the Island Government will acquire these funds,” she said.
According to the 2009 multi-annual budget for country St. Maarten, the island will start with a budgetary surplus of NAf. 24.4 million in 2009, which is projected to grow to NAf. 29 million in 2010, NAf. 37.3 million in 2011, NAf. 42.5 million in 2012 and NAf. 48.9 million in 2013.
The personnel cost (salary, vacation allowance, social premiums and sickness insurance) of all seven Ministries is calculated at NAf. 129.4 million in 2009, but will grow to NAf. 140.1 million in 2013. The personnel cost of the 15 Parliamentarians of St. Maarten has been calculated at NAf. 3.3 million in 2009 and will increase to NAf. 3.6 million by 2013.
Personnel cost for each individual Minister has been estimated at NAf. 246,000 in 2009. In 2013 the personnel cost for each Minister will increase to NAF. 267,000 per year. In addition, each Minister will have a budget of NAf. 88,000 at his or her disposal for housing, transportation, communication, travel expenses and miscellaneous.
The main source of income for country St. Maarten will be taxes such as the wage tax, income tax, Turnover Tax (TOT), time share fee, board tax, condominium tax, road tax and gasoline excise tax. The tax burden on the people of St. Maarten will be approximately 30 per cent.
Wescot-Williams stated finally that government had chosen an approach of consultation and involvement, and that there would be a review of the proposed organisation for country St. Maarten where possible changes could be made before political decision-taking took place.
“When it comes to country St. Maarten, the way we know government to function today in terms of the Executive Council and Island Council will change drastically in the situation of country St. Maarten,” she said.
