Unbiased look at the Sint Maarten Elections
PHILIPSBURG--The Youth Parliament wants a more active role in the decision-making process of the country.
A delegation of the Youth Parliament, headed by Dwayne Griffith, presented a motion requesting the possibility to make recommendations on the findings of the various integrity reports to the Parliament of St. Maarten on Tuesday afternoon in a Central Committee meeting in Parliament House.
The "emergency" meeting during which the motion was presented to the Parliament was requested by the Youth Members of Parliament (YMPs). The motion was signed by YMP Chairman Dwayne Griffith, YMP Mhakeda Shillingford and Daniella Maccow.
The YMPs resolved in its motion "to serve as the liaison" between government and the youth through social media, media programmes, collaboration with youth organizations, symposiums, rallies and debates.
The YMPs want "to develop a youth involvement policy" for the seven ministries and to have the Kingdom Youth Parliament "develop a future policy framework that reflects the wishes of young citizens of the kingdom."
The YMPs carried out a survey among their peers to get a pulse on how they feel about the instruction from the kingdom government to Governor Eugene Holiday for an additional screening of minister candidates. The survey found that the majority of young people were "unaware" of the issues.
Youngsters also expressed their lack of interest in governance and feel that politicians, once elected, do not care about the people.
Presenting the motion, Griffith thanked the MPs for the "unprecedented" meeting of the YMP and the Parliament. He said youngsters believe the country needs the help of the kingdom government, "but the instruction has put St. Maarten in a predicament."
Prior to presentation of the motion, YMP Shillingford told MPs Sarah Wescot-Williams (chairwoman), Leona Marlin-Romeo, Tamara Leonard, Maurice Lake, George Pantophlet, Christophe Emmanuel, Silveria Jacobs, Frans Richardson and William Marlin that putting young people on boards, in ministries and in delegations on youth issues will "have impact and fresh perspectives."
YMP Maccow said the instruction from the kingdom government seeks "to force the governor" to go against the Constitution of the country. She said the general sentiment of her peers is that St. Maarten does not have the social and economic infrastructure "to go independent."
YMP Kamilah Gumbs said youngsters have "a negative view" of politicians." She urged MPs to work with the kingdom government "to find common ground."
The instruction "threatens the sovereignty" of the country, while a recent report from the French Senate to close off the border between French and Dutch sides "threatens our way of life," said YMP Didianka Peterson.
YMP Erdade Sainmervil said the governor has been put "in an untenable position" by the kingdom government with the issuing of the instruction.
MP William Marlin told the youngsters the National Alliance (NA) believes the country has a working screening process that has worked. He said his party has no information about the ongoing cabinet formation process. "It is not clear if the governor will conduct a deeper screening".
MP Jacobs (NA) said she was "alarmed" that the vast majority of youngsters feel MPs do not care for the people and country. She said the people are "being held hostage" by the current impasse.
MP Frans Richardson (United St. Maarten Party) said the way young people feel about politicians is caused by the way politicians behave and how they refer to each other, often negatively. "We are our own culprits." He added that the governor has not yet informed the people how he will handle the instruction.
MP Leonard (United People's Party) called on the YMPs to always seek the truth and not just pay attention to hearsay. She said the process to form the new cabinet should be allowed to take its course.
MP Maurice Lake (UP) said St. Maarten must gather together with other Dutch islands to come to a firm position about the behaviour of the Dutch Government. "We need to take a strong stance ... we need to go to the UN."
MP Marlin-Romeo (independent) said the governor is yet to make his position on the instruction public and until then the due process should be allowed to take its course. She believes security and integrity screenings should also be conducted for MPs, secretary-generals and department heads.
MP George Pantophlet (NA) told the youngsters to not only look at what politicians are doing or can do, but to review what youngsters should do for the country.
MP Christophe Emmanuel (NA) asked the youngsters to determine where they want to see St. Maarten go as it progresses.
After the MPs gave their contribution to the discussion, the YMPs shared their further positions and views.
