Minister of Finance Hon. Hiro Shigemoto discussed a number of issues with Dutch Minister of Home and Kingdom Affairs Hon. Piet Hein Donner on Monday.
One of the main issues was debt payment funds to the tune of Naf.40 million. This is a very important issue according to Minister Shigemoto for country Sint Maarten which is linked to agreements that led to the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles.
With respect to the BES islands of Saba and St. Eustatius, those discussions focused on the issue of exemption of the Turn over Tax with respect to goods shipped to the aforementioned islands.
Minister Donner was informed that the 2012 National Budget has been approved by the Council of Ministers and is currently going through the advisory process.
The possibilities of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) being used by patients from Saba and St. Eustatius instead of the former having to travel to Guadeloupe or Martinique were discussed, and Minister Donner recommended that the Ministers of Public Health of the respective countries should follow-up on this.
Middle-level Vocational Education (MBO) was another point deliberated upon and the possibilities for students from Saba and St. Eustatius to also make use of the educational opportunities on Sint Maarten. It was recommended that the Ministers of Education of Holland and Sint Maarten should follow-up on this point.
Minister Shigemoto briefed Minister Donner about the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visit to Sint Maarten in connection with article IV consultation; the current account deficit; and the monetary union.