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PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — SuNDay afternoon, MP NDidate' href='/newspolitician/740/grisha-heyliger-marten'>Grisha Heyliger-Marten again questioned if the Government of St. Maarten is aware of the developments on an interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl level, aND if it is capable of representing the paramount interest of the people St. Maarten.
As a people, we continue to face major challenges. These range from our legal system being based on the Dutch language to concerns about food security, aND inequality aND injustice when it comes to our (fiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAncial) relationship with HollaND, the so-called democratic deficit, Heyliger-Marten said.
Since the beginning of my tenure, I have maintained that all these problems lead back to one main issue, aND that is the fact that the constitutioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl structure of the Kingdom is not in compliance with interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl law.
A few months ago, Dr. June Soomer addressed this in a presentation to Parliament from the perspective of St. Maartens right to development justice. In her presentation, Dr. Soomer provided recommeNDations on a way forward for our SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtion along the lines of the SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl SustaiSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAble Development plan that the BVI aND other Caribbean SPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtions have adopted.
As far back as 2017, former Dutch Minister Plasterk informed the Dutch House of Representatives that based on his visit to the UN aND the World Bank, St. Maarten could aND should do much more regioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAlly with the assistance from interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl organizations.
However, from what I have gathered reading recent news reports, it seems that our current Government is blissfully ignorant of what is going on the global stage, how to engage foreign entities, aND what our interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl rights are. Whats even worse, Government is only looking to the Dutch Ministry of Kingdom Relations for instructions aND solutions.
Not only is Government behiND with it comes to respoNDing to Parliament, but it also seems to be lagging behiND when it comes to interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl developments.
Separate recent news reports state that:
Apart from these reports, I have sent a letter to the Hon. Prime Minister to have the Kingdom Charter aND other Kingdom legislation vetted against interSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAtioSPArty/23/national-alliance'>NAl law, aND one to the Hon. Minister of Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport aND Telecommunication regarding food security aND economic diversification, according to Heyliger-Marten.
Also, MP Sarah NDidate' href='/newspolitician/544/sarah-wescot-williams'>Wescot-Williams recently sent a letter to the Hon. Prime Minister regarding the status of Governments request for CARICOM associate membership, seeing that Aruba aND Curaao are close to achieving this status.
PeNDing the Council of Ministers answers to Parliament aND in light of all these developments, inclUDing the latest news about the new post Cotonou Treaty, I will seND a letter to the Hon. Prime Minster with specific questions about this treaty, aND what it will mean for the people of St. Maarten, Heyliger-Marten conclUDed.
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