30 Parliamentary meetings still pending, governing program debate among them

GREAT BAY--The Parliament of St. Maarten has 30 outstanding meetings awaiting scheduling or completion, across Public, Central Committee, and Committee formats. The pending agenda includes a public meeting on the Governing Program 2024–2028, requested by the Council of Ministers. Opposition factions have criticized Parliament’s management of its workload, calling the backlog "political malpractice."

Parliament’s Secretariat notes that several ministers have asked for additional preparation time, and that some items are queued for the President to schedule. The tally shows work across finance, justice, TEATT, VROMI, state reform, and oversight institutions. It should also be noted that there are a number of meetings scheduled for next week and that the President of Parliament has acknowledged the backlog.

Highlighted pending meetings and who requested them:

Public meetings pending

1. Presentation and deliberations on the Governing Program 2024 to 2028, requested by the Council of Ministers.
2. U.S.–China trade impacts, Soul Beach tourism effects, vendor marketplace delay, requested by MP E. J. Doran, MP D. T. J. York, MP A. M. R. Irion.
3. Discussion with the Minister of Finance on issues around the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, requested by MP E. J. Doran, MP A. M. R. Irion, MP D. T. J. York, MP O. E. C. Ottley, MP F. A. Lacroes, marked urgent.

Central Committee meetings pending

1. Nature Policy Plan Sint Maarten 2021 to 2025, awaiting ministry feedback.
2. Supervision of investment intermediaries and asset managers ordinance.
3. Omnibus amendments to multiple tax ordinances.
4. Herziening formeel belastingsrecht, requested by MP A. M. R. Irion, MP S. E. Jacobs, MP E. J. Doran, MP C. L. Marlin.
5. Annual Report 2024, General Audit Chamber.
6. Education Inspectorate ordinance.
7. Re-appointment of the Ombudsman.
8. Presentation of the Ombudsman Year Report 2024.
9. Appointment of the Monument Council 2025 to 2029.
10. Update and discussion with the Minister of TEATT on public transportation, request cross referenced to a 2023 request by MP S. A. Wescot Williams.
11. Kadaster Strategic Plan, with financial and administrative implications, requested by MP O. E. C. Ottley, MP F. A. Lacroes, MP L. C. J. Lewis.
12. Discussion with the Minister of Justice on unresolved matters impacting justice workers and union relations, requested by MP F. A. Lacroes, MP O. E. C. Ottley, MP L. C. J. Lewis.
13. Initiative draft to expand categories for admission by right, initiative taker MP O. E. C. Ottley.
14. Annual Report 2024, Integrity Chamber.
15. Annual Report 2024, Council of Advice.

Committee meetings pending

1. Update by the Minister of TEATT on public transportation plans and license conversion, requested by MP S. A. Wescot Williams.
2. National tax reform status and Tax Office condition, requested by MP A. M. R. Irion.
3. Country Package themes update, requested by MP S. A. Wescot Williams.
4. Follow up on suicide prevention, school violence, and crime trends.
5. National housing and institutional capacity, requested by MP D. T. J. York.
6. Discussion with the Council of Ministers on a New Parliament Building.
7. CLIMB Foundation research on Point Blanche Prison and Miss Lalie Center.
8. Green Dream Projects Foundation presentation.
9. Roundtable follow up on Point Blanche Prison capacity.
10. Roadmap to Independence petit committee, request to add MP D. T. J. York.
11. Revenue generation and collections, Finance and TEATT, requested by MP E. J. D. Doran.
12. Financial situation and outlook of TelEm, requested by MP D. T. J. York.

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