PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilience St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Sjamira Roseburg would like tax exemptions expanded to cover more basic goods coupled with stronger price controls as measures to help residents cope with high grocery, gas and other living costs.
Speaking during the continuation of the debate on the draft 2026 budget on Friday, Roseburg said residents are struggling with low incomes and high costs for rent, gas and groceries, and questioned what can do to help ease that pressure.
Roseburg proposed expanding the existing tax exemptions to cover additional basic goods. She pointed to existing exemptions for items including bread, sugar, salt, milk, diapers, toilet paper, chicken and fruits.
She said the exemptions do not necessarily result in lower prices for consumers because there is no regular price control to ensure the savings are passed on at the stores. Roseburg therefore proposed adding more products to the list of tax-exempt goods, including vegetables, fish and other types of meat, pasta, basic hygiene products, cooking gas, natural products, soap and cheese.
She also called for structural price controls on these essential goods so that prices cannot simply be increased after taxes are reduced. According to Roseburg, price controls currently take place during hurricane situations, but she wants the system to be applied more consistently rather than only during hurricane season or when there is an emergency.
Roseburg said the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of TEATT could look into changes to the law and stronger price controls.
She asked whether the Ministry of TEATT is already examining the issue and, if not, whether such an amendment would be supported if she brings one to Parliament. Roseburg said she is looking into bringing the amendment because residents are struggling and she wants measures that would have a direct effect on their everyday grocery shopping.
