Dear Editor,
As an operator/employer of a bar and restaurant since 2013 on St. Maarten I can clearly remember that within 2 weeks of opening my business 2 inspectors came to check if I had a business license. Because I didn’t have my license as yet I was granted 2 weeks to take the receipt of my notary payment to the office on Cannegieter Street.
I always pay my taxes every month and license fees every year as I am confident that by paying my taxes will benefit when I am no longer able to work. Last week my bar and restaurant were visited by a VSA [Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labor – Ed.] inspector during the evening hours while I, the managing director, was not present, to carry out a control. The employee present during the control was asked to show proof of the following documents during the control:
Copy of ID, employment and residence permit of the employee
Copy of Chamber of Commerce for the year 2021
Copy of Business license
Copy of Director’s License
Copy of Labor Registration
Copy of list of Personnel
Copy of last 2 months of AVO/AWW and TOT receipts
Work schedule of employees
2 last pay slips
The employee was also told that the business license should be placed at the front of the bar even though they were displayed on a wall facing the front of the bar. There were a number of documents that she could not produce at that time. A name and number were left on a document that contained the logo and heading of the Inspectorate of VSA for me to call, with a check mark of the missing documents that I was requested to take to the office within 2 days which I had no problem doing.
On Friday September 10, 2021, I visited the Festival Village and walked from booth to booth. I counted at least 30 open booths and never once saw one booth with a single business license displayed as was requested to be done in my place of business.
Why are the VSA inspectors are going from business to business all hours of the day to control bars and restaurants in different areas of the island but not controlling a single bar and restaurant in the Festival Village? All bars and restaurants on St. Maarten are compelled to pay yearly for 2 licenses, including one to sell open alcoholic beverages to the public, plus the Chamber of Commerce fee. My question is, why are the bars and restaurants in the Festival Village exempt from paying these fees?
Over the last 7 years numerous prominent local businessmen have been dragged to court because of not paying their fair share of taxes with the prosecutor claiming that they are disadvantaging other businesses who are paying their taxes. Is it fair for business owners of the Festival Village to have an advantage over other bar and restaurant operators just because they are renting from government?
Since the operators of the Festival Village are allowed to operate their establishments tax free, I believe the inspectors should halt controlling other establishments on St. Maarten until everyone of those bars operating in the Festival Village can display their operating licenses and start paying their fair share of taxes like all other businesses on St. Maarten must do.
P.S. Before anyone starts thinking that those documents were requested from my business because my business has been receiving government stimulus, let me make it clear that my business never requested nor received any government stimulus.
Name withheld at author’s request.
