St. Maart: Fees, taxes, same difference

The Island Council unanimously approved a change in the island ordinance regulating several fees, including fees for ID cards, building permits and passports, on Monday.

The change in the law makes it possible for the Census Office to increase the fee for the new ID card from the current NAf. 7.50 to NAf. 25. The ID card will cost NAf. 5 for persons below the age of 17. The change in the ordinance also formalizes an increase in the passport fee from NAf. 45 to NAf. 100.

Government picking people's pockets as usual. When will governments try to trim expenditures and cut wasteful spending? I bet if they did that, they'd find a whole lot of extra money to do really necessary and useful things.