~For initial two to three months~
PHILIPSBURG--The Council of Ministers has approved a 50% reduction in the tariff on the special import duty for gasoline, with the relief expected to initially run for two to three months before being reassessed.
Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs announced the approval while responding to questions from National Alliance (NA) MP Darryl York during the debate on the draft 2027 budget.
York asked what the minister meant when she previously said she was open to gas relief, whether that meant government would introduce the measure and when residents could expect it.
Gumbs said the approval by the Council of Ministers meant the relief would move forward. She said the measure would be based on a 50% reduction in the tariff on the special import duty for gasoline.
Gumbs said she had presented a proposal to the Council of Ministers in March for a temporary reduction of import duties on gasoline, in recognition of the financial pressures that rising fuel costs place on households and businesses.
She also raised the proposal during the 2026 and 2027 budget debates in Parliament. “After months of persistent efforts, research, and advocacy, I am proud that we have reached a point where we can finally translate our commitment into tangible relief for the people of St Maarten.”
Gumbs said the measure was developed through cooperation with the Ministers of Justice and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT). “Today, with the approval of the Council of Ministers, this commitment is becoming a reality. Together with my colleagues, the Ministers of Justice and TEATT, we have worked to turn this objective into a measure that will provide meaningful relief where our people can feel it: at the pump.”
She said the achievement reflected what could be accomplished through collective work and practical solutions.
“As Minister of Finance, I recognize that my responsibility is not only about safeguarding the country's financial stability. It is also about ensuring that the decisions this Government makes translate into meaningful improvements in the lives of the people we serve.”
The initial two-to-three-month period will allow for the measure to be reassessed.
