Six Major policy and legislative proposals remained pending before SER

GREAT BAY--Six advisory requests involving some of St. Maarten's important social, economic and legislative issues remained pending before the Social Economic Council (SER) at the end of 2025, including proposals concerning the establishment of a new poverty line, corporate income tax, immigration legislation, financial assistance and judicial procedures.

The outstanding matters are detailed in the SER's 2025 Annual Report, published on October 26, 2026. The report provides a breakdown of advisory requests received during the year, identifying their subjects, originating ministries or Members of Parliament, submission dates and status.

Among the six pending requests was a study to establish a new poverty line for St. Maarten, submitted on February 21, 2025, by the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor (VSA), under then-Minister Richinel Brug.

The request places the question of how poverty is defined and measured among the matters awaiting the Council's assessment. Establishing a poverty line is particularly relevant to discussions about social assistance, household income, the cost of living and the development of policies intended to support vulnerable residents.

Another pending matter concerned proposed amendments to the National Ordinance on Admission and Expulsion. Submitted on February 28, 2025, by Member of Parliament S. Rosenburg of the Unified Resilient St. Maarten Movement (URSM), the initiative seeks to expand the categories of persons eligible for admission to St. Maarten by operation of law.

A third request, submitted by the Ministry of VSA on June 18, 2025, concerned a draft National Decree containing general measures related to the financial aid scheme. The proposed changes are intended to bring the existing scheme into alignment with current practices.

Corporate taxation also featured among the outstanding legislative matters. On September 24, 2025, Member of Parliament O.E.C. Ottley of the United People's Party (UPP) submitted a draft initiative National Ordinance seeking amendments to the National Ordinance on Corporate Income Tax.

The report does not detail the specific proposed tax changes or their potential financial impact, but identifies the initiative as one of the legislative proposals still awaiting SER advice.

Labor and employment regulation formed part of the pending workload as well. On December 2, 2025, the Ministry of VSA requested a review of the amended UAV, the implementing decree concerning foreign workers, together with its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum.

The sixth pending request involved proposed changes to the Code of Civil Procedure. Submitted on December 4, 2025, by MP Rosenburg of URSM, the proposal seeks to introduce the possibility of hearings and decisions by a panel of multiple judges at the court of first instance, while also addressing judicial orders in cases involving limited monetary value.

Taken together, the six requests span poverty measurement, social support, taxation, immigration, employment regulation and the functioning of the judicial system. Three originated from the Ministry of VSA, two from URSM and one from UPP.

While the report identifies all six matters as pending during the 2025 reporting period, it does not establish whether any were subsequently completed in 2026.

The outstanding requests are presented against a year in which the SER reported renewed advisory activity after an extended period of institutional inactivity.

According to the Council, its reconstituted board worked to address a backlog of legislative matters dating back to 2023, successfully finalizing 10 comprehensive advisory reports during 2025.

Those completed reports addressed several major policy areas, including public transportation bus tariffs, the Early Childhood Development funding mechanism, the proposed Visitor's Tax and the Sustainable Affordable Accessible Health Care Act (SAAHA).

The healthcare legislation received particular attention during the year. The SER examined issues surrounding cost containment, possible fiscal consequences for taxpayers and outstanding arrears to Social and Health Insurances (SZV).

The Council held 23 board meetings throughout 2025, approximately six of which were extraordinary sessions involving experts who provided additional information concerning the healthcare proposals and the Visitor's Tax.

The Annual Report also explains that the SER's ability to issue advice was affected by administrative delays outside its control. In particular, delays involving National Decrees for the Council's chairman and a WICSU/PSU nominee affected the formal issuance of advice.

The Council reported that administrative constraints associated with the appointment procedures contributed to an additional delay of approximately three months, even where advisory matters had already advanced through its internal processes.

Financially, the SER reported total expenditure of XCG 1,162,513 against a budget figure of XCG 1,365,174. The Council attributed reduced spending partly to a vacant staff position and lower material expenditure.

In addition to its legislative advisory work, the SER strengthened relationships with national and international institutions during the year. This included participation in the AICESIS General Assembly in Curaçao and a first meeting with the Conseil Économique, Social et Culturel de Saint-Martin on December 5, 2025.

SER Chairman Harlec G.F. Doran emphasized the Council's renewed commitment to independent research, cooperation with Government and Parliament, and constructive social dialogue in support of St. Maarten's development.

The publication of the Annual Report provides a clearer picture of both the advisory work completed during 2025 and the legislative and policy matters that had yet to be finalized. With several pending requests touching directly on household finances, social protection, employment and national legislation, their inclusion also illustrates the breadth of the Council's responsibilities in evaluating policies that can affect residents and businesses throughout St. Maarten.

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