PHILIPSBURG--National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Darryl York is making a second draft initiative law on succession land, along with legislation on child protection and animal welfare, priorities for the new Parliamentary Year, which opened on Tuesday.
York told The Daily Herald in response to questions about the past and upcoming Parliamentary Year, that he also intends to focus on following up on motions already adopted by Parliament.
York identified the submission of his first draft initiative law relating to the Road Fund as one of his main accomplishments. He said the initiative allowed him to draw on his background as a civil engineer and pursue a more sustainable and structured approach to investing in and maintaining infrastructure.
He also pointed to the recent passage of his motion concerning the Orange Economy, which he said developed from almost three years of conversations, information gathering and engagement through “Let’s Talk Art,” an initiative he co-founded.
Throughout the year, York said he remained focused on holding Government accountable through questions and follow-up on issues affecting residents.
For the new Parliamentary Year, York plans to submit his second draft initiative law, aimed at removing what he described as much of the unnecessary red tape surrounding succession land and creating a fairer and more workable process for families dealing with those properties.
He also intends to develop additional legislative initiatives concerning Child Protection and Animal Welfare. “Passing a motion is only the beginning. The real measure is whether it ultimately translates into action.”
York said Parliament as a whole fell short last year by not consistently exercising both sides of its responsibility: holding Government accountable while also using its legislative authority to advance solutions.
He said Parliament too often becomes reactive, addressing issues after they have developed into major problems instead of identifying them earlier.
York also called for greater follow-through on initiatives and commitments presented to the public and said Parliament must be prepared to address politically uncomfortable issues that have a real impact on people’s daily lives.
For Parliament as a body, he identified follow-through as the key priority.
He said the institution’s credibility depends on its ability to turn words, motions and meetings into results and said country should be placed above political ties where the interests of Sint Maarten are at stake.
York said Parliament should ultimately be judged not by the number of meetings it holds, but by what those meetings produce and whether people can see improvements resulting from decisions made in Parliament.
