Roseburg wants more basic goods tax-free and prices kept in Check

GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Sjamira Roseburg is preparing a budget amendment to redirect approximately XCG 230,000 in unused personnel funds toward hiring legislative lawyers on a consultancy basis, while also moving to expand tax relief on essential goods and strengthen price controls so that any savings actually reach consumers.

Roseburg outlined the two initiatives during the 2026 budget debate, arguing that Parliament should use the budget process not only to identify government shortcomings, but also to find practical ways to address long-standing problems.

The proposed budget amendment follows a motion Roseburg authored in 2025 addressing the shortage of legislative lawyers within government. She said the problem continues to slow the drafting and processing of legislation across ministries, despite repeated acknowledgement that Legal Affairs lacks sufficient capacity.

XCG 230,000 to Help Bring in Legislative Lawyers

Roseburg said approximately XCG 230,000 remains unused under a personnel budget line and wants Parliament to authorize moving those funds to consultancy services, allowing government to bring in qualified legislative lawyers without increasing the overall budget.

The amendment would therefore be budget neutral, shifting money that is unlikely to be used for personnel during the remaining months of 2026 into an area where there is an immediate need.

Roseburg said government has already indicated that consultancy support is being explored because of the shortage of legislative lawyers. Her amendment is intended to make funding available to turn that plan into action.

She suggested that qualified legislative lawyers could be recruited on a temporary consultancy basis from elsewhere within the Kingdom or other jurisdictions, including Suriname, provided they have the expertise required to assist St. Maarten.

For Roseburg, the issue goes beyond staffing Legal Affairs. A shortage of legislative lawyers affects every ministry because policies, revenue measures and reforms often cannot move forward until the required legislation has been drafted, reviewed and completed.

She said Parliament and government frequently discuss laws that need to be introduced or updated, only for those initiatives to remain stalled because the legal drafting capacity is not available.

Roseburg said the amendment is also a continuation of the motion she previously brought on the issue rather than simply another call for government to act.

The January 17, 2025 motion, authored by MP Roseburg and tabled by Parliament President Sarah Wescot-Williams, called on the Minister of General Affairs to continue working with the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, BZK, while also broadening the search for legislative lawyers to address the shortage within government. Parliament approved the motion by 12 votes to 2, giving government a clear mandate to strengthen the legislative capacity of the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislation.

The motion also called on the Minister of General Affairs to explore European funding to help strengthen the Department of Legal Affairs and Legislation. Parliamentary records later noted that government was expected to provide an update on the motion within six months, showing that the motion was intended to produce follow-up action rather than remain only a parliamentary recommendation.

“Often you hear a motion is a wish, but not if you follow up and follow through on it,” Roseburg said.

She argued that Parliament now has an opportunity to provide the resources necessary to execute what was called for in the earlier motion.

“If we have the will to do so, but we don’t have the people, it will just stay a wish,” she said.

Roseburg said additional legislative capacity could benefit all ministries and accelerate laws dealing with revenue generation, social policy, Justice, economic affairs and other priorities that continue to await legislative work.

She said she hopes the amendment will receive the support of her fellow Members of Parliament, particularly because it does not require additional spending but instead redirects funds already contained in the budget.

Roseburg Wants BBO Changes Focused on Everyday Essentials

Roseburg’s second initiative focuses directly on the cost of living.

She said she is examining changes to the BBO, Belasting op Bedrijfsomzetten, commonly referred to in English as Turnover Tax or TOT, to broaden the range of basic goods receiving tax relief, with the intention of lowering the cost of products households purchase regularly.

Roseburg pointed to essential goods that currently receive favorable tax treatment and said government and Parliament should examine whether the list can be expanded to better reflect what families actually need today.

Among the additional items she wants considered are vegetables, fish and other meats, basic hygiene products, cooking gas and menstrual products, along with other common household necessities.

Her argument is that if government wants residents to feel tangible relief, changes should target expenses that occur every week or every month rather than measures whose benefits may not be immediately visible.

“Everybody has to do groceries,” Roseburg said, explaining that lowering costs on basic necessities is one way government can attempt to put relief directly into household budgets.

The MP said she first wants to determine whether the Ministries of Finance and TEATT are already working on similar changes. If not, she indicated that she is prepared to pursue the necessary legislative amendment herself.

Tax Relief Must Be Matched by Price Controls

Roseburg stressed, however, that changing the tax treatment of essential goods will accomplish little if businesses do not pass the savings on to consumers.

She therefore wants any expansion of tax relief accompanied by consistent price monitoring and enforcement.

The MP said residents should be able to clearly see the benefit at the supermarket, rather than government removing a tax while the retail price remains unchanged.

Roseburg questioned whether price controls and monitoring can be strengthened throughout the year instead of receiving heightened attention primarily during hurricane preparations or other emergencies.

She argued that government must establish a more structural system to monitor essential goods and ensure that products receiving special tax treatment are priced accordingly.

The issue, she said, is particularly important when residents continue reporting that food, electricity, rent, fuel and other basic living expenses are consuming an increasing share of household income.

For Roseburg, the BBO proposal therefore has two parts: expand relief on essential goods and make sure the consumer actually receives the benefit.

She asked TEATT to indicate whether it is willing to intensify price monitoring and whether government would support the proposed legislative changes if they are brought through Parliament.

Eyes Legesverordening Changes

Roseburg also said she is considering changes to the Legesverordening, the ordinance governing fees charged for certain government services, to introduce optional expedited processing for documents and applications where residents or businesses need faster service.

Under the concept, the regular process and standard fee would remain in place, but applicants who need a passport, ID card, driver’s license or other service completed more quickly could choose to pay an additional fee for a defined faster processing period. Roseburg stressed that the proposal is not intended to increase costs for everyone, but to create an optional service for persons who need urgent processing.

She said similar arrangements already exist elsewhere in the Kingdom and questioned why St. Maarten should not examine the same approach. Roseburg also suggested that expedited fees could potentially apply to certain immigration-related matters, including dispensation requests, first-time applications and other cases where all required documents have been submitted and an applicant is seeking a quicker decision.

Roseburg said the proposal could improve service while also creating an additional source of government revenue. She asked the Ministries of Finance and Justice to clarify whether changes to the Legesverordening are already being developed and said that, if not, she is prepared to work on an amendment herself rather than duplicate work already underway.

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