~MP says ministers are failing Parliament by ignoring written questions from elected representatives~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Opposition MP Lyndon Lewis has accused government ministers of failing to respect Parliament by leaving written parliamentary questions unanswered for months, warning that the lack of accountability is creating unnecessary duplication during the 2026 budget process.

Speaking during Monday's Central Committee meeting, Lewis said he supports efforts to make Parliament more efficient but argued that efficiency must begin with ministers complying with their legal obligation to answer Members' questions.

"I do also want us to be efficient," Lewis said before turning his attention to what he described as a pattern of superficial or nonexistent responses from ministers.

The MP revealed that a detailed letter containing approximately 50 questions for the Minister of Justice was submitted on April 19 and officially registered by Parliament on April 20.

More than two months later, Lewis said the questions remain unanswered, despite many of them dealing directly with issues now under discussion in the 2026 budget debate.

Among the subjects raised were police salaries, long-delayed promotions, acting allowances, and pension payments—matters that directly affect government expenditure and, therefore, the national budget.

Lewis questioned whether there was any value in resubmitting the same questions as part of the current budget exercise if ministers continued to ignore Parliament's requests.

"If I have to sit down here and read out 50 questions again... what type of answers would I get, or would the minister be negligent again and not send any answers?" he asked.

Chairperson Sarah Wescot-Williams advised Lewis that the previous questions could be incorporated into his budget submissions and would be answered through the same written procedure being used for all Members.

Lewis, however, argued that Members of Parliament are being forced to perform the same work repeatedly because ministers fail to respond in a timely manner.

"I am doing double work too," Lewis declared.

He emphasized that the questions he submits are not generated solely by himself or his staff but arise from consultations with the public.

"I engage with the public as to what they think needs to be asked to a particular minister," Lewis said, adding that he has questioned all seven ministers and even the Council of Ministers, not just one portfolio.

"The minister has their job to do, and one of their jobs is to answer the questions to Members of Parliament," Lewis concluded.

His intervention highlighted growing frustration among legislators over delayed ministerial responses, an issue several Members argued contributes to longer debates, repeated questioning and reduced efficiency in Parliament's handling of the national budget.

~MP says all elected representatives deserve equal treatment as tensions rise over budget proceedings~

PHILIPSBURG:--- Opposition MP Egbert Jurendy Doran delivered a sharp rebuke to the Chair of Parliament during Monday's continuation of the Central Committee budget meeting, accusing Parliament of applying different rules to coalition and opposition members.

Before beginning his budget questions, Doran addressed what he described as an uncomfortable exchange that occurred during last Friday's meeting, saying he initially intended to let the matter rest but decided to speak after hearing comments about whether Members had anything "constructive" to contribute.

"I want to remind you that we are all equally elected Members of Parliament," Doran said, stressing that debate inside Parliament should always remain respectful regardless of political affiliation.

While acknowledging that he can be passionate when discussing issues important to him, Doran maintained that he has never crossed the line into disrespect.

According to the MP, the real problem arises when different standards are applied to different Members.

Doran recalled that during a previous Central Committee meeting, he had been asked to stop speaking while the Chair invited other Members to contribute, which he described as disrespectful.

"That is beyond disrespectful," he stated, adding that the situation was made worse when, in his view, exceptions were later granted to coalition Members regarding amendments to parliamentary reports after he had previously been told such changes were impossible.

Referring to an incident earlier this year, Doran said he had requested amendments to a parliamentary report but was informed the document could not be altered. However, he claimed a similar request from a coalition MP was later accommodated.

"I believe we all should be treated fairly," Doran said, urging the Chair to avoid conduct that could hinder Parliament's ability to function effectively.

"I would like you to refrain from that type of behavior because it hinders the progress of Parliament and hinders us as Members of Parliament from executing our job," he said.

Despite the criticism, Doran proceeded with an extensive list of budget-related questions directed at several ministries, including requests for updates on the Philipsburg Market reconstruction, vendor compensation, youth programmes, utility relief, fuel price reductions and air-conditioning for the Cultural Center auditorium.

The exchange underscored continuing friction over parliamentary procedures as lawmakers continue examining the 2026 national budget.

Opposition and coalition members find common ground on reform, while Irion calls for publication of Parliament attendance records

PHILIPSBURG:---  What began as a continuation of Parliament's Central Committee meeting on the 2026 draft budget quickly evolved into a spirited debate over how Parliament conducts one of its most important constitutional responsibilities, with Members from both the coalition and opposition agreeing that the current budget process requires significant reform.

The discussion centered on newly introduced procedures requiring Members of Parliament to submit all budget questions in writing by July 2, after which the questions will be compiled into a Central Committee report, ratified on July 6, and forwarded to Government. Ministers will then provide written responses before the public budget debate, where Members can seek clarification and engage in political debate.

While the procedure is intended to streamline the budget process, several Members questioned whether it would actually eliminate duplication or simply postpone it.

Coalition MP Ludmila de Weever was among the first to weigh in, saying the discussion should focus on improving Parliament's efficiency rather than repeating the same questions in multiple meetings.

"There are set rules for handling the budget," De Weever said, explaining that too often identical questions are asked in Central Committee and then repeated again during the public meeting because the initial responses are insufficient. She argued that the duplication wastes time for Members, civil servants and ministers alike.

"I wanted to bring up... changing the way we work and working a little bit more efficiently," she said, adding that Parliament should have a broader dialogue about modernizing its procedures for future budgets.

She later clarified that her comments were not aimed at the current July timeline but at the overall structure of budget debates.

"We literally have a Central Committee meeting that lasts the same amount of time as a public meeting... the same questions are posed, the same answers are given, and it's just not an efficient way of working."

Opposition MP Egbert Jurendy Doran largely agreed with the objective but questioned whether the revised procedure would actually solve the problem.

Doran noted that once Government submits written responses after July 6, Members would still be forced to revisit many of the same issues during the public meeting because they would not have an opportunity to clarify unclear responses beforehand.

"I thought that changing up the process... would have included responses from Government so that clarification could take place before the public meeting. Otherwise, we'll have the same situation MP De Weever is talking about where we're asking the same questions again."

Although he acknowledged the Chair's explanation, Doran concluded that the revised system still appeared "a little less efficient."

MP Francisco Lacroes also sought clarification, asking whether ministers would return to Parliament after submitting their written answers.

When informed that ministers would not appear again until the public meeting, Lacroes pointed out that any unclear written responses would inevitably force Members to repeat the same questions during the open debate.

"So basically, what MP De Weever is saying is exactly that," Lacroes observed after receiving the Chair's explanation.

Perhaps the strongest criticism came from opposition MP Ardwell Irion, who said Parliament's procedural debates have become confusing both for Members and the public.

"The procedure honestly is becoming a joke to me, and I think even the rest of the people in St. Maarten," Irion remarked, criticizing what he described as inconsistent application of parliamentary rules and differing treatment between coalition and opposition Members.

Irion said if Parliament intends to make the new process the standard for handling legislation, it should be applied consistently to every major piece of legislation moving forward, including future tax reforms and other national ordinances.

He argued that once ministers present legislation, Members should submit written questions, receive written answers, and reserve substantive debate for the public meeting.

"I really hope that in two weeks, in August, September, I don't hear members of the coalition say, 'No, let's have another discussion in Central Committee.' It should be the same way going forward," he said.

Irion also raised another issue that resonated with the public: parliamentary attendance.

He said he hopes Parliament will begin publishing attendance records so citizens can clearly see which Members consistently report for duty and actively participate in meetings, and which do not.

According to Irion, taxpayers deserve to know which elected representatives are regularly present to perform the work for which they receive a public salary.

The discussion highlighted an unusual point of consensus inside Parliament. While Members disagreed on the mechanics of the new procedure, both coalition and opposition MPs acknowledged that the current budget process often results in repetitive questioning, unnecessary duplication of work and longer parliamentary sessions.

The Chair ultimately maintained the revised process, reminding Members that written questions must be submitted no later than July 2, with the Central Committee expected to ratify its final report on July 6 before forwarding it to Government for written responses. Those responses will then form the basis of the public debate on the 2026 national budget.

~Lawmakers remember beloved community members as colleagues urge nations to cherish loved ones~

PHILIPSBURG: Monday's Central Committee meeting opened with heartfelt tributes to the late Joyce Wathey, whose passing has deeply affected Members of Parliament and the wider St. Maarten community.

Several MPs paused their parliamentary business to extend condolences to her husband, Emil, their children, relatives, and friends, remembering Wathey as a compassionate woman whose concern for others never wavered, even as she faced her own health challenges.

MP Ardwell Irion was among the first to acknowledge her passing, extending sincere condolences to the Wathey family.

Reflecting on life's unpredictability, Irion said that while people live each day making plans for the future, no one knows when their final day will come.

He urged the community to become more intentional about relationships and family life.

"Especially in the age of artificial intelligence, we need to be even more human with each other," Irion said as he expressed sympathy to the grieving family.

MP Francisco Lacroes then delivered an emotional tribute, recalling how he and Joyce Wathey had recently been in Colombia together during medical treatment.

He described developing a close friendship with her over the past month and said he was deeply moved by her selflessness.

According to Lacroes, despite undergoing medical procedures herself, Wathey remained more concerned about the wellbeing of those around her than about her own condition.

"Not every day, every other day, I would receive a message from her asking how my son was doing," Lacroes recalled.

He recounted sending her a message on Friday morning without receiving a response before later learning from her son that she had suffered a medical emergency. By Saturday morning, he received the devastating news of her passing.

Addressing the family directly, Lacroes said he could only imagine the pain her husband, Emil, and their children and loved ones were experiencing.

"It's a rough situation. You don't know what day your day is," he said.

Using the moment as a reminder to the nation, Lacroes encouraged residents to live with kindness and compassion.

"My word out to everyone is just love, be kind and make sure that the last thought anyone has of you is a pleasant one because you don't know when it could be your day."

The tributes momentarily set aside politics inside Parliament as Members reflected on the fragility of life and celebrated the memory of a woman remembered not only for her strength, but for the care and encouragement she consistently showed to others, even during her own personal battles.

Also sending condolences to the Wathey family was the chair of parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams, who said she too was shocked to receive the news on Saturday morning and urged everyone to be mindful of how they live.