PHILIPSBURG:--- During a recent Council of Ministers press briefing, a pointed question was directed at the Minister of VROMI (Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure) regarding the ministry's resilience to corruption and its capacity for timely decision-making. The inquiry, prompted by public frustration over long waits for building permits and even simple address verifications, cut to the heart of a growing concern: are delays engineered to solicit bribes?
The Minister’s response was refreshingly direct, acknowledging that the current structure is not equipped to handle the demands of modern Sint Maarten. This admission opened a detailed discussion on the deep-seated systemic issues plaguing the ministry and the government's strategy to address them.
A System Stuck in 1935
A significant challenge highlighted by the Minister is the island's building ordinance, which dates back to 1935. This nearly century-old code was designed for a vastly different era, one of small chattel houses and simple construction. Today, VROMI staff are tasked with applying these outdated regulations to complex, multi-story condominium projects with modern amenities like central air conditioning—features not even contemplated by the original law.
This mismatch between antiquated rules and modern reality creates a bottleneck. The law mandates a one-month turnaround for permits, a feasible target when only a few homes were built per month. Now, the ministry receives dozens of applications each week, making the legally required timeline nearly impossible to meet with current processes. The Minister emphasized that while policies have been created over the years to bridge this gap, a comprehensive update to the building ordinance is a top priority for the ministry.
From Paper Files to Digital Solutions
The inefficiency is compounded by archaic, paper-based workflows. The Minister described a process where applicants must submit multiple physical copies of documents, which are then individually stamped and manually distributed. This cumbersome system is not only slow but also increases the potential for files to be misplaced or delayed.
To combat this, the ministry is actively exploring modernization. The conversation has turned towards digitalization and the use of technology, including AI, to streamline the review of complex documents and speed up the entire process. The goal is to create an environment that facilitates proper, efficient decision-making, thereby reducing the opportunities for corrupt practices to take root.
Tackling Systemic Disconnects
The problem extends beyond VROMI's internal processes. The Minister pointed to a significant historical disconnect between government departments, particularly VROMI and the Cadastre. This lack of alignment leads to frustrating and time-consuming issues for the public. For instance, a road might be listed under different names in VROMI and Cadastre records, or an address recognized by one department may not exist in the system of another.
Such discrepancies turn a seemingly simple task like an address verification into a complex inter-departmental project. The government is now working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cadastre to synchronize their data, a crucial step toward creating a more seamless and efficient public service experience.
Building Capacity for a Modern Government
Recognizing that policy changes alone are not enough, the ministry is also focused on building its human capacity. The existing government structure and hiring processes are slow and have not kept pace with the island's economic growth. To overcome this, the ministry has secured a 1.4 million euro subsidy to quickly bring in new personnel.
In an innovative move, the government is partnering with third-party agencies to hire eight new specialists who will join the ministry within weeks. This creative approach bypasses the lengthy traditional government hiring process, allowing VROMI to address its capacity shortages with the urgency required.
Broader Implications for Governance and Trust
The Minister's candid assessment reveals a government that is not shying away from its shortcomings. The issues within VROMI—outdated laws, inefficient processes, and departmental silos—are symptomatic of a broader challenge: the island's public infrastructure has not kept up with its rapid development.
By acknowledging that an inefficient system can create an environment where corruption might fester, the administration is taking a proactive stance. The focus is shifting from merely policing integrity to fundamentally fixing the broken processes that enable negative acts. This effort to modernize, streamline, and align government functions is about more than just efficiency. It is a critical move to restore public trust, support economic development, and build a government that is truly capable of serving the people of Saint Martin in the 21st century.
