~MP says ministers are failing Parliament by ignoring written questions from elected representatives~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Opposition MP Lyndon Lewis has accused government ministers of failing to respect Parliament by leaving written parliamentary questions unanswered for months, warning that the lack of accountability is creating unnecessary duplication during the 2026 budget process.
Speaking during Monday's Central Committee meeting, Lewis said he supports efforts to make Parliament more efficient but argued that efficiency must begin with ministers complying with their legal obligation to answer Members' questions.
"I do also want us to be efficient," Lewis said before turning his attention to what he described as a pattern of superficial or nonexistent responses from ministers.
The MP revealed that a detailed letter containing approximately 50 questions for the Minister of Justice was submitted on April 19 and officially registered by Parliament on April 20.
More than two months later, Lewis said the questions remain unanswered, despite many of them dealing directly with issues now under discussion in the 2026 budget debate.
Among the subjects raised were police salaries, long-delayed promotions, acting allowances, and pension payments—matters that directly affect government expenditure and, therefore, the national budget.
Lewis questioned whether there was any value in resubmitting the same questions as part of the current budget exercise if ministers continued to ignore Parliament's requests.
"If I have to sit down here and read out 50 questions again... what type of answers would I get, or would the minister be negligent again and not send any answers?" he asked.
Chairperson Sarah Wescot-Williams advised Lewis that the previous questions could be incorporated into his budget submissions and would be answered through the same written procedure being used for all Members.
Lewis, however, argued that Members of Parliament are being forced to perform the same work repeatedly because ministers fail to respond in a timely manner.
"I am doing double work too," Lewis declared.
He emphasized that the questions he submits are not generated solely by himself or his staff but arise from consultations with the public.
"I engage with the public as to what they think needs to be asked to a particular minister," Lewis said, adding that he has questioned all seven ministers and even the Council of Ministers, not just one portfolio.
"The minister has their job to do, and one of their jobs is to answer the questions to Members of Parliament," Lewis concluded.
His intervention highlighted growing frustration among legislators over delayed ministerial responses, an issue several Members argued contributes to longer debates, repeated questioning and reduced efficiency in Parliament's handling of the national budget.