Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs.
PHILIPSBURG--Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs) currently make no employee contribution toward the pension benefits attached to their political office, but Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs wants that to change with a proposed 8% pension contribution for both Ministers and MPs.
Gumbs announced the proposal while presenting her ministry’s budget in Parliament on Thursday, saying she has received approval from the Council of Ministers to move forward with the measure, subject to the required legal and legislative process.
She said her review of government’s financial obligations showed that neither MPs nor members of the Council of Ministers have been making an employee contribution toward their political pensions since October 10, 2010.
Under the proposed measure, Ministers and MPs would have to contribute 8% toward their pensions, the same contribution rate currently paid by civil servants.
Gumbs said Article 30 of the National Ordinance Pension Regulation Political Authorities provides for the contribution to be regulated by National Decree containing general measures. However, she said the required framework to implement the provision has not yet been established.
“Meanwhile, our civil servants contribute 8 percent toward their pensions. Workers throughout our society contribute toward their pension arrangements.”
Gumbs also pointed out that the current situation differs from that of political officeholders in Aruba and Curaçao, where she said political officeholders contribute toward their pension arrangements.
“That is simply not fair, nor is it just.”
Under the current arrangement, Gumbs said that when a Minister or Member of Parliament becomes entitled to a pension at the applicable pensionable age, the pension obligation is ultimately carried by the public purse without an employee pension contribution having been made by that political officeholder. “In simple terms, the taxpayer pays in full to all past and present political officeholders.”
Gumbs said she does not believe political officeholders should ask the public to carry a burden that they are not prepared to share themselves. “Charity begins at home, but so must fiscal responsibility.”
She said she sought and received the approval of the Council of Ministers to introduce the 8% pension contribution for Ministers and Members of Parliament, with the necessary legal and legislative steps to follow.
Her intention is to advance those steps as soon as possible, with the aim of implementing the contribution on January 1, 2027.
Gumbs described the proposal as a structural fiscal measure focused on fairness, shared responsibility and leadership by example. “We cannot stand before the people of Sint Maarten and speak about sacrifice, fiscal discipline and everyone paying their fair share, while exempting ourselves from that very principle. If we expect the people of Sint Maarten to contribute to the future of this country, then those of us entrusted to lead it must be prepared to contribute as well. Fair share must mean everyone's fair share, including ours.”
