PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — The Bureau for Intellectual Property Sint Maarten officially presents its first financial statement to the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication (Minister of TEATT) for approval. This took place after only ten months since the National Ordinance for the Bureau for Intellectual Property (National Ordinance BIP) came into force making the Bureau an official legal body.
The National Ordinance BIP went into effect early October 2015 along with the online operations of the Bureau. Since then trademark applicants in Sint Maarten, the Caribbean region and around the world can register their national and international trademarks with the online registration system. The Bureau also provides information about other areas of intellectual property to the public, such as patents and copyright. This information is available to the public via the website of BIP SXM: www.bip.sx.
Although the National Ordinance BIP went into effect early October 2015 the incorporation phase of the Bureau started in 2014. Therefore the Director, Mrs. V. Rosen-Sandiford, together with the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication, currently lead by the Honorable Minister I.I. Arrindell, and the Supervisory Board of the Bureau, consisting of Ms. M. Hoeve, Ms. G. Vlaun and Mr. A. Bell, decided that a financial statement for the year 2014 should be submitted for approval by the Minister, considering 2014 was the first year of formation, making it the first financial statement of the Bureau. The financial statement 2015 is scheduled to be submitted for approval before the end of this year.
Having a Bureau for Intellectual Property Sint Maarten is imperative to further stimulate economic growth in Country Sint Maarten. The Ministry of TEATT is pleased to be presented today with the first financial statement of the Bureau and looks forward to a continued good working relationship between the Bureau and the Ministry, says the Honorable Minister I.I. Arrindell.
