For the first time, June 30 this year is celebrated as the International Day of Parliamentarism. It is also the date, in 1889, on which the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) – the global organization of parliaments – was established.
This day celebrates parliaments and the ways in which parliamentary systems of government improve the day-to-day lives of people in the world. It is also an opportunity for parliaments to take stock, identify challenges and ways to address them effectively.
The United Nations promotes international awareness and action on these issues.
What parliaments do
Strong parliaments are a cornerstone of democracy. They represent the voice of the people, pass laws, allocate funds to implement laws and policies, and hold governments (ministers) to account. They work to make sure that policies benefit all people, especially the most vulnerable, by passing laws – for example – on violence against women and ensuring equal access to health care.
Parliaments also link international and national agendas, ensuring that governments implement international treaties and agreements that they sign up to. They can play a significant role in supporting and monitoring implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The IPU has been working closely with governments to help build their capacity to do so.
Parliament and SDGs
Parliament’s Role in Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, a Parliamentary Handbook, has been produced jointly by the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption to help parliamentarians and parliamentary staff members play an effective role in implementing the SDGs. It introduces Agenda 2030 and lists good practices and tools from around the world.
Just recently, St. Maarten’s parliament heard a presentation done by ECLAC and Drs. Loekie Morales, on aspects related to the 2030 Agenda and the implementation of SDGs and their role in that. Attention was given to a national development approach for St. Maarten. For the drafting of the National Development Plan, a dialogue process was started between 2013 and 2015 to engage the stakeholders within and outside Government (NGOs, private sector, academia, media, etc.). The exercise was organized by the Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations BAK.
The main points of concern of the stakeholders back then still need to be linked to the government Vision document, for BAK to come up with a nationwide “Country’s priorities” for the development of the NDP for Sint Maarten. The SDGs are a roadmap for the NDP and will be incorporated in the NDP when drafting this long term strategic plan.
Much has been done on national development planning which resulted in the following final documents:
1. “The Baseline study of St. Maarten’s development from a government perspective”: This report gives an understanding of the range of development issues that are relevant to St. Maarten’s development, like how the government policies are addressing those issues, and the extent to which St. Maarten’s current level of development can inform future development options.
2. “A Policy-Budget Paper,” which is a document intended to promote discussion towards implementing a planning and budgetary process to support a programmatic style of governance. By linking funding to policy results rather than inputs, a program budget becomes an instrument where information and decisions are structured in accordance with the objectives that guide the country’s development.
3. St. Maarten Vision 2030: A vision document for the sustainable development of St. Maarten, integrating economic, social, environmental and governance dimensions of development.
With the passing of Hurricane Irma, it is needed that the SDGs also be incorporated in the National Recovery and Resilient Plan (NRRP), the short-term plan to deal with the hurricane urgencies. Since Irma a lot of priority has been given to reconstruction/building back a better St. Maarten.
St. Maarten’s Department of the Interior and Kingdom Relations BAK is the designated focal point for the Sustainable Development Goals. Drs. L. Morales, program manager at BAK, can be contacted to be part of the Agenda 2030-SDGs process. You can reach her via government email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or per telephone number + 1 721 527 1223.
Prime Minister Leona Romeo-Marlin
Dear Editor,
Over the years I have learned that not because someone is a known robber, every robbery that was committed was committed by that known robber. But say one say two you can’t blame the public for suspecting that known robber.
We just had Irma and Maria and we know the devastation which they brought about. Sad to say, nine months later we still have a problem deciding who is going to trust who with whose money to build back what.
It is no secret that over the years “money to fix back” or to build has ended up in the wrong hands and too often the project that moneys were destined for never got off the ground. Every time I drive over the A.T. Illidge Road in the Garden of Eden area I ask myself why was not that project completed?
But what is worse is that we have to send away people on emergency courses to learn construction in order to be able to assist with the rebuilding of Sint Maarten after Irma and Maria. That means that our people in government do not even feel the shame to know that they have been there so long and in comparison have not done anything to educate its people.
The proof is in several Heralds. The proof is in having to relax labour policy to be able to permit a vast amount of people in construction to come to rebuild Sint Maarten. I cannot say “help rebuild” because we do not have any of our own. The proof that we have not done anything about the education is in the fact that some years ago the Dutch government gave us thirty million to build a polytechnical school and nothing has become of that. So, no tradesmen.
What happened to Milton Peters College? By the way, the schoolchildren – yes, these are real schoolchildren – said that they have state-of-the-art electrical and carpentry equipment just sitting there in the M.P. College.
Now that there is proof that we do not have Sint Maarteners who we can use to build back the country and we want relaxation of the labour laws, there are some lingering thoughts and questions. Hoilland is very interested in our immigration (protecting our borders); Holland did not follow up on that thirty million for the polytechnical school. At least I did not hear anything to that effect.
We know who was the commissioner in charge at that time. We need to relax the labour policy on foreign labourers because we need tradesmen. We also know who always comes out smelling like a rose no matter how many governments are toppled.
All of this brings back to mind the title of a popular Dutch TV series “Waar is de mol?” I keep getting these flashbacks. How much is thirty million in comparison to the amount mentioned in the case of the former head of the VDSM
Something else just came to mind also. Because of transparency of government, should not the participants of APS/SVB be kept abreast of the progress of the bailout of the new government building? I believe there are still a few of us who read. Just put it in writing somewhere, it will not stay hidden. What a relaxing atmosphere it would create if there was genuine transparency of government.
Russell A. Simmons
Dear Editor,
Monday, June 25, 2018 the new Cabinet took the oath of office and a new chapter in Government began. It is my hope that each and every one of our civil servants will be able to focus on “the big Picture.” I have truly experienced the majority of them to be hard working, involved, passionate and dedicated employees, often times working under less than acceptable conditions in the post-Irma wrecked Government Building, yet everyday coming to work with a smile and often doing more than their share. Unfortunately I have also experienced some that are aces at backbiting, telling you half a story and lacking all respect for their colleagues and superiors.
The way we communicate with each other, the way we talk about each other, the way we respect each other will ultimately determine how well we work with each other. Understanding each-others challenges, greatly improves compassion for each other.
Serving the public is a privilege; the public should never be seen as an interruption of your work.
In the same way that the private sector is not the enemy. It serves absolutely no good purpose to treat them as such, or to paint all members of that pillar of society with one and the same brush.
Government besides being a regulator and enforcer, should also be a facilitator. Government is made up of people … those people are the civil servants.
Be the best that you can be, consider that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, adopt an attitude that embraces the glass being half full rather than half empty. Do not accept mediocracy. Smile every day and count your blessings. Use the stairs more and the elevators less. Flush the toilets and urinals … it shows you respect the next user. Do your work with passion and compassion. Consider yourselves lucky: You have a job!
Thank you for the privilege to allow me work with you and amongst you.
Michael Ferrier
Former Minister of Finance
Dear Editor,
Nearly 10 months after Hurricane Irma, the Cupecoy area is still under severe threat caused by the destruction of Ocean Club. Aside from blocking the entrance to the property, no debris has been picked up which is not only an eyesore but poses a serious danger to the surrounding properties.
I don't know if they are waiting for insurance money, although I understand that they were insured for only about 20 per cent of their actual damage claim, but Cupecoy should not have to endure the destruction that their flying debris will cause.
We implore the Government to step up and solve this problem. The buildings are not recoverable and the area needs to be bulldozed. The land is far more valuable cleared than in its present condition.
The immediate potential victims of allowing Ocean Club to stay as it is throughout the current hurricane season are Sapphire Beach Club and The Blue Mall – both of which sustained damage from the demise of Ocean Club. Further potential harm to Porto Cupecoy and Shore Point can easily occur if the winds are only a fraction of what occurred with Irma.
We are already one month into the hurricane season. This clean-up will not be easy and it will take time. Please do not wait and hold endless meetings about this issue – we need action now.
Concerned residents and businesses in Cupecoy
Dear Editor,
Monday, June 25, 2018 the new Cabinet took the oath of office and a new chapter in Government began. It is my hope that each and every one of our civil servants will be able to focus on “the big Picture.” I have truly experienced the majority of them to be hard working, involved, passionate and dedicated employees, often times working under less than acceptable conditions in the post-Irma wrecked Government Building, yet everyday coming to work with a smile and often doing more than their share. Unfortunately I have also experienced some that are aces at backbiting, telling you half a story and lacking all respect for their colleagues and superiors.
The way we communicate with each other, the way we talk about each other, the way we respect each other will ultimately determine how well we work with each other. Understanding each-others challenges, greatly improves compassion for each other.
Serving the public is a privilege; the public should never be seen as an interruption of your work.
In the same way that the private sector is not the enemy. It serves absolutely no good purpose to treat them as such, or to paint all members of that pillar of society with one and the same brush.
Government besides being a regulator and enforcer, should also be a facilitator. Government is made up of people … those people are the civil servants.
Be the best that you can be, consider that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, adopt an attitude that embraces the glass being half full rather than half empty. Do not accept mediocracy. Smile every day and count your blessings. Use the stairs more and the elevators less. Flush the toilets and urinals … it shows you respect the next user. Do your work with passion and compassion. Consider yourselves lucky: You have a job!
Thank you for the privilege to allow me work with you and amongst you.
Michael Ferrier
Former Minister of Finance
