Since 1948, St Barth has legally been a town in Guadeloupe. That may soon change as St Barth strives to achieve the more autonomous status of an Overseas Collectivity. The Senate, one house of the French Parliament, voted to accept this change on October 31. Next, the National Assembly, the second house of the French Parliament, must also vote to agree. Because of the presidential elections in France in the Spring, the parliamentary session will close at the end of February this year rather than its normal date of the end of June. Time is of the essence, and Mayor Bruno Magras is working hard to make sure this item is on the agenda. What changes could this bring to St Barth? More autonomy in taxation, urbanization and certain decisions that are currently made by the French Parliament. St Barth was declared a duty-free port in the Franco-Swedish treating dating from 1877. As such, the island and its residents have not been subject to French taxation. The new status will give St Barth the authority to create its own system of taxation.