Wescot-Williams launches Parliament theme on Artificial Intelligence: “Building Digital Trust”

GREAT BAY--Parliament Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams announced that the theme of the 2025–2026 Parliamentary year will be centered on Artificial Intelligence (AI), with the focus on “Building Digital Trust, Exploring a National AI Strategy, and Advancing Open Parliament.”

“Parliaments around the world are being challenged to adapt,” Wescot-Williams said. “Institutions that uphold democracy must now explore how they can leverage emerging tools like AI not only to make information more accessible to the public, but also to strengthen, secure, and future-proof our democratic systems.”

The new theme will examine how AI can enhance public involvement, cybersecurity, efficiency of parliamentary systems, and democratic transparency. Sint Maarten will also look at how AI integration can be made equitable and sustainable.

As part of the year’s program, a Central Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, featuring a presentation by a Sint Maarten AI expert. Additionally, at the opening reception, the 13th Annual President of Parliament Award will be presented to a young person recognized for their positive contributions to society, alongside acknowledgements for individuals and organizations promoting digitalization and AI awareness.

“The exploration of this theme will allow Sint Maarten to look ahead and identify where AI integration is inevitable, and to begin working toward a plan for equitable and sustainable use of these technologies,” Wescot-Williams explained.

𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫

Chairlady Wescot-Williams also reflected on the closing theme of the past Parliamentary year, agriculture and sustainable agricultural practices, and the activities it inspired.

She noted that Parliament recognized local farmers at the opening of the 2024–2025 year, produced a video to highlight sustainable farming, and held meetings with the Ministry of TEATT and the St. Maarten Farmers Cooperative to address challenges such as limited access to land, water scarcity, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient government support. The Committee of Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry also explored innovative concepts such as the Sualiga Field US floating farm project.

At the governmental level, she acknowledged efforts to advance agriculture through the establishment of an Agricultural, Livestock and Fishery agency, promotion of healthy eating, relaunch of the Fisheries Committee, and partnerships with regional counterparts such as Barbados and the British Virgin Islands. She also highlighted Sint Maarten’s participation in the Dutch Caribbean Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Alliance conference in Bonaire earlier this year.

“These initiatives prove that Parliament and Government are working, albeit incrementally, to raise awareness and take action on agriculture, food security, and fisheries,” she said.

𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Wescot-Williams urged Parliament to not only reflect on the past but to chart a collective vision for the future:

“Our people expect more than a tally. They expect a collective vision, at least on the big items and the big challenges facing our nation, not only on the Executive level, but also from these chambers.”

She emphasized the need for:

• Electoral reform, including the draft referendum ordinance she recently submitted.

• Deeper regional cooperation, including work on the dispute regulation within the Kingdom and building ties through Parlatino and other Caribbean forums.

• Topical committees in Parliament to strengthen expertise, such as committees on health and education.

• Incremental reform of Parliament’s rules of order, with proposals from members to be debated soon.

• A stronger culture of structured, disciplined decision-making, guided by clarity of responsibility and accountability.

The Chairlady further urged that government planning and Parliament’s oversight be guided by coherence and measurable milestones. She recommended:

• A Council of Ministers retreat to align priorities.

• A national task force to coordinate cross-ministerial issues.

• A comprehensive socio-economic survey to ground policy in data.

• A pilot smart city project to modernize public services.

• The formation of a National AI Team St. Maarten to support this year’s theme.

“These are not just abstract ideas, they are proposals for concrete, forward-thinking governance,” she said.

Wescot-Williams also announced that Parliament’s 2024–2025 Annual Report will be released on September 30, 2025, in digital format only, as part of Parliament’s commitment to modernization and transparency.

She concluded with gratitude to MPs, parliamentary staff, and the people of Sint Maarten, urging a new year of unity and purpose:

“The people of Sint Maarten deserve more than our reflections of the past. They deserve direction for the future. They deserve a Parliament that leads transformation and a government that acts as one. This is the meaning of Semper Progrediens: learning from our past, acting in the present, and moving forward together.”

The new Parliamentary year will officially open on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, with the Governor’s annual address.

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