PHILIPSBURG:--- The St. Maarten Parliament convened for an urgent public meeting on May 8th, 2025, to address ongoing delays in the ratification and publication of the 2025 national budget. Highlighting frustrations over stalled processes, Members of Parliament (MPs) raised sharp questions about the technical challenges tied to amendments and the implications for government operations.
MPs call out delays and accountability issues.
MPs expressed significant discontent with the prolonged delay in finalizing the 2025 budget, initially requested as an urgent matter back in February. MP Darryl York pointed out that an "urgent meeting called in February was only taking place in May," while MP Egbert Jurendy Doran criticized the lack of accountability in handling Parliament’s concerns. Multiple MPs lamented that repeated letters to the Minister of Finance went unanswered, leading to growing frustration.
MP Doran, who is vocal about budget management, inquired whether the government’s current financial disbursements aligned with existing legal frameworks. Given the administrative bottlenecks, he also sought clarity on the handling of upcoming financial commitments, such as civil servants’ jubilee payments and vacation allowances.
Meanwhile, MP Ardwell Irion highlighted discrepancies in budget management for cultural events such as the Soul Beach Festival and the Carnival. He questioned whether payments for these events adhered to proper budget classifications and legal protocols. He also urged the government to address revenue-generating measures for sustainable financial planning, which remain unaddressed despite earlier pledges.
Growing Frustration Over Amendment Process
The discussion also unearthed deep concerns regarding the amendment process. MPs York and Lacroes questioned why the amendments, which triggered the delay, were not identified as problematic earlier. "How did it take six months to resolve issues tied to just seven amendments?" MP York asked.
MP Lacroes emphasized the importance of addressing errors in the budget’s numerical details, warning that submitting the same budget without corrections could lead to further delays in approval. Similarly, MP Omar Ottley cautioned against overconfidence in rushing through a flawed budget, asserting, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
Strains on Public Trust
Several MPs underscored a breakdown in communication between Parliament and the Ministry of Finance as a key issue. MP Ottley expressed dismay at the growing perception that parliamentary authority over the budget had been undermined, citing a lack of timely responses from the ministry. He called for greater respect for Parliament’s oversight role, urging collaborative and transparent action moving forward.
“There is no room for delay when it comes to ensuring that financial commitments to public servants, vendors, and vital programs are honored,” MP Ludmilla De Weaver stated, summarizing much of the sentiment shared across Parliament.
The meeting concluded with calls from the Minister of Finance to provide a detailed explanation of government finances and a clear roadmap for addressing the pending budget issues. While frustrations ran high, MPs signaled a cautious openness to supporting a revised budget if sufficient improvements were made.
