ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN © 2018 Parliament of Sint Maarten Tel: (721) 542-2929 • 542-0635 • 542-0812 Fax: (721) 542-0306 E-mail: [email protected] Physical Address: Wilhelminastraat #1, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten Website: www.sxmparliament.org CORAM POPULO CORAM POPULO • OPENLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD PG. 2 INTRODUCTION Tasks and Committees of Parliament Composition of Parliament PG. 3 Support of Parliament Logo of Parliament Financial overview PG .8 PARLIAMENTARY YEAR IN REVIEW PARLIAMENT MEETINGS OF THE YEAR Public Meetings PG . Central Committee Meetings 25 Permanent and Ad Hoc Committee Meetings PARLIAMENT MEETINGS ATTENDANCE LISTS Public Meetings PG. Central Committee Meetings 43 Permanent and Ad Hoc Committee Meetings FACTS & FIGURES PG .52 LIST OF PERMANENT AND AD HOC PG .132 COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT LIST OF STANDING COMMITTEES OF PARLATINO PG. 134 PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 1 CORAM POPULO • OPENLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE their offices at Wilhelminastraat 1 in special way by the Parliament of Sint On the inside, the strengthening of Philipsburg, neither could the opening Maarten, taking its annual luncheon “to Parliament’s support continued with the be held at the House of Parliament. the streets”, serving members of the appointment of 2nd Acting Secretary FOREWORD community with lunch on December General, Mr. Garrick Richardson, who The mood was sober as Parliament 14th and joining in the community will take up his position in September and the people were still trying to cope spirit, which was so prevalent following 2018 after a two-year internship in the with the effects of the massive storms. the devastation suffered in September. Netherlands. True to the slogan of #stmaartenstrong, the Parliament of Sint Maarten slowly In keeping with the election decree, Parliament has stepped up its media but surely got back on its feet. This the new Parliament was sworn in on presence, with the launch of the was necessary, as an election loomed April 2nd, 2018, following which, the Parliament’s Facebook page, where but a few months following the historic Parliament secretariat proceeded to - as with the Parliament’s web page- storms. organize the sessions for the newly Parliament meetings can be followed sworn in Members as was done in the live. This has proven to be a worthwhile Since those fateful days in September past, such as the orientation week. tool in the interaction between the 2017, the focus of the entire country general public and Parliament. and the Parliament was on the recovery The first interim recovery plan was efforts for the community. received on October 10th, 2017 and set As Parliament prepares to host the the stage for the discussions regarding January 2019 IPKO consultations, we In what can be considered a defining the Dutch funding for Sint Maarten’s can look back on our participation in moment in our country’s young recovery. 2018, where matters such as a dispute democracy was the national decree to regulation and current issues such as call for the dissolution of Parliament Several meetings of Parliament were health care and the Venezuela crisis signed off on November 3rd, 2017 held to ascertain the width and depth dominated the talks. and then amended on November of this funding that is channeled 12th, 2017. On January 15th, 2018 through the World Bank. The focus of the new parliamentary an interim Government was installed, year 2018/2019 will be very much followed by an election on February Other recurring themes during this on the rebuilding of our country; the Dear Colleagues, Honorable Members 26th. This resulted in a new Parliament, parliamentary year were: accountability of funds received, the of Parliament and readers, consisting of the parliamentary factions • The landfill in Philipsburg; prioritizing of the recovery and the United Democrats (UD) with seven • The state and pace of the country’s preparedness for potential The opening of the Parliamentary Year seats, National Alliance (NA) with five recovery; disasters. 2017/2018 took place on September seats, United St. Maarten Party (USP) • The country’s preparedness for 12th, 2017. From the very mention with two seats, and Sint Maarten disasters and; Respectfully, of this date, it is evident that the Christian Party (SMCP) with one seat. • The financial situation of opening took place one week after St. Maarten. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams the devastating hurricanes Irma Looking back, many things stand out President of Parliament and Maria razed our island. With during those trying months, not in The UD/SMCP Government was unimaginable willpower, we managed the last place, the coming together of sworn in on June 25th, 2018 and two to at least maintain that semblance the Sint Maarten community and the elected Members of Parliament resigned of normalcy and proceeded to open massive assistance received from others and took up positions as Ministers, the parliamentary year under very in the first days, weeks, and months to paving the way for two new Members trying circumstances. The building follow. of Parliament to take office on July 6th, of Parliament was not left unscathed 2018. and Members of Parliament for Christmas 2017 was celebrated in a several months could not make use of PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN 2 ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 CORAM POPULO • OPENLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE INTRODUCTION TASKS AND COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT The Parliament of Sint Maarten is the highest various permanent and special committees. Constitution: legislative body of the country and according to Currently there are 13 committees: article 44 of the Constitution it represents the entire • co-legislator (article 82 of the Constitution); population of Sint Maarten. The Parliament currently • Central Committee; • the right of initiative consists of 15 Members who are elected for a four- • Committee of Petitions; (article 85 of the Constitution); year period. • Committee of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, • the right of amendment Environment and Infrastructure; (article 86 of the Constitution); According to article 46 of the Constitution, the • Committee of Justice; • exercise control over government’s policies; Parliamentary year commences with a public session • Committee of General Affairs; • the right to ask questions on the second Tuesday of September. During this • Committee of Finance; (article 62 of the Constitution); meeting, the Governor delivers a speech laying out the • Committee of Tourism, Economic Affairs, • the right of interpellation policies of the Government for the coming year. Transport and Telecommunication; (article 63 of the Constitution); • Committee of Education, Culture, Youth • the right of inquiry Parliament elects a President and Vice Presidents from and Sports Affairs; (article 64 of the Constitution); their own number. Together they form the Presidium. • Committee of Public Health, • the right to approve and amend the budget If the President is not available, the Presidency shall Social Development and Labor; (article 100 of the Constitution). be taken over by one of the Vice-Presidents. • Committee of Kingdom Affairs and Interparliamentary Relations; The main tasks of the President are: • Committee of Country’s Expenditures; • Committee of Parlatino Matters; • supervising the activities of Parliament and the • Ad Hoc Committee for the Preparation Presidium; of the Construction of the New Building for • ensuring that the Rules of Order are Parliament; ad hered to; • Ad Hoc Committee of Integrity. • maintaining order during and the ad journing of deliberations; The Faction Leaders meeting, comprising of the • executing decisions taken by Parliament and; President of Parliament and the Faction leaders of • representing Parliament. the factions represented in Parliament according to article 12 of the Rules of Order, plays a key role in The Parliament has Rules of Order that regulate the functioning of Parliament. In this setting often, amongst others the procedure of meetings. Meetings political issues are discussed in order to determine of Parliament are public unless it is considered each faction’s standpoint before the issues are brought necessary, or it is requested by four Members, to hold to a Public Meeting. the meeting behind closed doors. According to article 21 of the Rules of Order, Parliament consists of The powers of Parliament are clearly stated in the PARLIAMENT OF SINT MAARTEN ANNUAL REPORT 2017/2018 3 CORAM POPULO • OPENLY IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE COMPOSITION OF confidence was accepted, the Prime PARLIAMENT Minister submitted the resignation • Period September 12, 2017- of his cabinet to the Governor MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT April 2, 2018 of Sint Maarten and requested The Parliamentary year 2017-2018 elections to be held. Hence 2018-2022 opened with four factions: the elections were held on February 26, faction of the National Alliance 2018, and as result of that election with five seats (5), the faction of and dissolution of Parliament the the United Peoples Party with five composition is now as follows: seats (5), the faction of the United • Period April 2, 2018 - present St. Maarten Party with three There are at present four factions seats (3) and the faction of the in Parliament: the faction of the Democratic Party with two seats (2). United Democrats (UD) with seven On November 9, 2017, Parliament seats (7), the faction of the National received a letter from the faction of Alliance (NA) with five seats (5), the the Democratic Party containing the faction of the United St. Maarten declaration by the Hon. Member Party (US) with two seats (2) and of Parliament C.E. Brownbill that the faction of the Sint Maarten he has joined and now supports the Christian Party with one seat (1). THEODORE E. HEYLIGER SARAH A. FRANKLIN A. MEYERS Democratic Party. Hence bringing The Presidium currently comprises Faction: United Democrats WESCOT-WILLIAMS Faction: United Democrats the United St. Maarten Party to of the Hon.