National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Darryl York has a point (see Monday newspaper). A meeting on the state of housing in St. Maarten originally requested in May was postponed until October at the request of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs.
However, the month ends Friday and there is no indication the gathering will be held before then. This is not an isolated case either, with a total of 29 parliamentary sessions that remain pending as reported in today’s edition, the oldest dating back to September 22, 2022.
However, the lack of affordable living accommodations is one of St. Maarten’s biggest and most pressing social issues. It contributes in no small measure to poverty and effects of such on the community.
The opposition member said millions of guilders were spent on acquiring land. But if there is any plan on how to use such, it has not been shared with the country’s elected representatives.
As York stated, the minister’s trial period is over and it’s time for results. With so many families waiting for payable homes opportunities, they by now indeed deserve some light at the end of the tunnel.
