PHILIPSBURG:--- Before Parliament moved to its agenda, MP Lyndon Lewis again raised concerns about garbage accumulating in several communities.
Lewis said he had received photographs and messages concerning garbage on Wesley Street and other roads. He also said he personally visited an area across from Angelica’s Drive in Cole Bay, where he photographed garbage.
The MP reminded the public that Minister of Education Melissa Gumbs is serving as Acting Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure and should therefore be approached about the continuing garbage problem.
“Work continues,” Lewis told Parliament, adding that the people must know whose door to knock on while the acting minister carries responsibility for the VROMI portfolio.
Doran demands long-pending revenue meeting
National Alliance faction leader MP Egbert Jurendy Doran also used the notification period to demand action on a parliamentary meeting requested more than a year and a half ago with the ministers responsible for Finance and Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication.
Doran referred to a newspaper report stating that the government had not included proposed revenue measures in the draft 2027 National Budget because the necessary legislation had not yet been finalized.
He described the situation as “disheartening” and “very, very disappointing.”
According to Doran, Parliament was previously promised revenue-generating measures during discussions on the 2024 budget amendment and the 2025 and 2026 budgets. However, another draft budget has now been presented without the anticipated measures.
“I see yesterday was very creative with the press briefing that took place here, but we don’t see the results,” Doran said.
He questioned when the urgently requested meeting would finally be convened, noting that conflicting explanations had previously been provided about whether the request had been received.
Wescot-Williams acknowledged that the meeting remains pending. She said attempts had been made to schedule it and instructed Parliament’s Secretariat to follow up with the ministers requested to attend.
Parliament subsequently proceeded with advice concerning the installation and composition of its permanent and ad hoc committees, the composition of the Parlatino committees, and approval of the delegation for the President of Parliament to attend the ceremonial installation of the President of the Joint Court of Justice in Curaçao on October 16, 2026.