In its assessment of the economic prospects for 2011 issued at the beginning of January, the Central Bank again advised St Maarten to strive to maintain the sound debt position it had been provided thanks to the Dutch debt relief programme. The assessment went on to highlight the pressures that the elected authorities will face in trying to balance the budget while at the same time making the necessary investments in human capital and physical infrastructure. The Central Bank advised that sound medium-term policy framework must involve a reform of the tax system and improvements in tax collection.