PHILIPSBURG--While the traditional way of doing things is important, without new initiatives the country is "bound to stay at zero economic growth. We have our restrictions in terms of capacity but we should not let these restrictions deter the opportunities knocking on our doors," Democratic Party (DP) faction leader Member of Parliament (MP) Roy Marlin said at the closing of the 2010-2011 Parliamentary Year on Monday.
Marlin was one of the four faction leaders together with President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell who gave their view on the past year and underscored the focus for the new one that opens today, Tuesday.
The new parliamentary year should focus on the strengthening of the organization, he said, adding that during his visit to the Netherlands in June, intense discussions were held with the Secretary General of the Dutch Second Chamber on making expertise available to aid St. Maarten. The discussions also surrounded creating the necessary human resources locally to help and sustain an organization such as the Parliament. "Long and short term training possibilities are open to young St. Maarteners to gain the knowledge and experience at the Second Chamber in order to return and help build our Parliament."
If during the approval of the 2012 budget, Parliament doesn't make sure the resources are set aside for this type of training and make a serious effort towards getting this started the end of the parliamentary term 2010?2014 will come and Parliament still will not be in a position to do anything substantial to gain the respect of the population and the outside world as a full-fledged functioning parliament. "We should ask ourselves the question when we are all done as politicians and it will happen sooner or later, what efforts have I done to improve St. Maarten. This should not be lip service only but adequate and concrete actions."
This first year of parliament has shown that "it cannot be business as usual when we see all other countries especially Aruba and Cura�ao initiating new ideas to get their country going and we don't move forward." Marlin pointed out that US President Barack Obama underscored last week "the sense of urgency to get the sluggish economy of the United States going. I feel and when I say I that also includes me, that we all lack the sense of urgency of doing things that will move this country forward."
Parliament and government should not wait and hope that the private sector will take the leading role in helping to create the economic, social, labour and job environment or should government have a leading role in helping to nurture these things, he said.
The MP said, "As Parliament, we should not shy away from drilling our own Ministers on issues for which we personally feel or issues which are brought forward by the public." One major issue of the past months is crime, specifically the recent spate of murders, he added. "This matter needs to be addressed and dealt with post haste." Marlin alluded to the fact that the United People's (UP) party/DP coalition has requested a meeting about crime with Justice Minister Roland Duncan. He hopes that the 2012 country budget will not only have figures, but clearly outlined plans about combating crime.
"Goals should be set on the repression of violent crimes on St. Maarten. These goals should be measured against the resources we make available. I hope to hear tomorrow when government outlines its programme for the coming year that we as parliament are provided with set goals of what each Ministry expects to achieve in the coming period."
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