PHILIPSBURG:--- The wheels of democracy in Sint Maarten appear to be grinding to a halt, with a growing backlog of unheld meetings leaving Parliament—and by extension the public—in the dark on critical issues ranging from national security to tax reform.
According to the latest "Pending Meeting Requests" list dated January 7, 2026, obtained by SMN-News, dozens of crucial discussions requested by Members of Parliament remain outstanding. The document paints a concerning picture of a legislature waiting on the executive branch, with some requests dating back to 2023.
The "Top 3" Accountability Gaps
An analysis of the document reveals that the Ministries of Finance, VROMI, and Justice account for the bulk of the delays, effectively creating a bottleneck on progress.
1. Ministry of Finance: The Legislative Logjam
The Minister of Finance currently holds the highest volume of critical pending matters. Most alarming is the delay in discussing the complete overhaul of the tax system.
Additionally, the Minister faces a stack of new legislative drafts from January 2026 regarding the supervision of virtual assets (crypto), payment services, and investment firms. Without these meetings, Sint Maarten’s financial compliance framework hangs in the balance.
2. Ministry of VROMI: Infrastructure & Safety on Hold
While the country faces housing shortages and climate risks, the Minister of VROMI has a significant list of outstanding updates.
Housing Crisis: Two separate meetings on social housing and the state of national housing (requested in January and May 2025) have yet to take place.
Flood Readiness: A request from November 2025 to discuss "national flood management and drainage readiness" remains pending. With weather patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, the lack of parliamentary scrutiny on our drainage infrastructure is a gamble with public safety.
3. Ministry of Justice: Security Risks Unaddressed
The Ministry of Justice is trailing on matters of immediate national security and human rights.
Prison Crisis: A roundtable on the capacity and situation at Point Blanche Prison was requested back in November 2024. The document notes the Minister was "ready in April," yet the meeting is still listed as pending in January 2026.
Regional Instability: An urgent request from January 5, 2026, to discuss national security concerns following the "capture of Venezuela's Head of State" is listed, with a closed-door meeting held, but an urgent public meeting still to be called.
The "Stalling" Tactics?
The document reveals a pattern of deferrals that hampers Parliament's ability to supervise.
"More Time Needed": The standard response for the tax reform meeting.
Budget Deflections: A request to discuss the U.S.-China trade war and the delay of the vendor marketplace (MinTEATT) saw the Minister invite MPs to handle the matter "after Budget 2025".
Silence: A request regarding the 2024 General Audit Chamber report is simply listed as "Normally in October," yet remains on the January 2026 list.
Impact on the People
The consequences of these delays are not just administrative; they are felt on the ground.
Economic Stagnation: A presentation on a regulatory model for cannabis legalization, requested in December 2025, is stalled.
Uncertainty for TelEm: A critical discussion on TelEm's financial performance, requested in October 2025, is still pending, leaving the job security of employees and the company's viability in question.
As the list of "outstanding" meetings grows, so does the deficit of accountability. With Parliament unable to question Ministers on these vital topics, the question must be asked: Is the government avoiding scrutiny, or has the machinery of government simply seized up?
Click here for the updated list of pending meetings.
