PHILIPSBURG--Drastic increase in Turnover Tax, skyrocketing of electricity bills and the overall dramatically increased cost of living are the legacies of the United People's (UP)/Democratic Party (DP) coalition government after a year in office, National Alliance (NA) leader Member of Parliament (MP) William Marlin pointed out at the closing of the 2010-2011 Parliamentary Year on Monday.
The just ended Parliamentary Year, he also noted, has seen no governing programme presented to Parliament.
Marlin said the people were told at the 2000 referendum that a change to the political system would put in place a government that would be able to respond quickly to their needs by cutting out the "bureaucratic bridge" between St. Maarten and Cura�ao where the majority of the Council of Ministers and MPs were elected in Cura�ao and were bound to serve interests there.
Marlin also criticised government for its lack of support for institutions put in place to ensure the country had accountability and good corporate governance instead of ministers using government-owned companies to fund their "favourite pet projects." He added that these are the same pet projects President of Parliament Gracita Arrindell (UP) as a former member of the Island Council had lobbied against.
Some institutions for good cooperate governance are "being vehemently criticised" by MPs and government. They are not only criticised; they are not getting the resources to carry out responsibility to assure good government and accountability, Marlin said, adding that "we are back to the politics of yesterday."
As for the Governing Programme, Marlin said many promises were made about green pastures, clean environment, and more job opportunities. These promises coupled with Governor Eugene Holiday's presentation of government's plans at the opening of the 2011-2012 Parliamentary Year today, Tuesday, will create a "unique situation" as no governing programme was presented to or debated by Parliament, he said.
There is nothing to judge government's progress on other than the constant increases in the cost of living, Marlin said. He chided MPs supporting the coalition for saying they will not tolerate the drastic changes, but every month brings more increases and their lack of support during the June budget debate for a motion to decrease the electricity fuel clause.
As for the spike in crime, Marlin blamed the "cash for gold" schemes that are colourfully advertised. This phenomenon is seen as the root of all the jewellery snatching that had not left many residents untouched. He said residents have also lost confidence in the police and are not reporting these crimes.
Continuing his attack on the coalition, Marlin said that unlike those MPs when the NA requested a five agenda point meeting with Justice Minister Roland Duncan and Labour Minister Cornelius de Weever, it was not for closed session of Parliament because the public needs to know what is going on.
Reflecting on the parliamentary year, Marlin said it was nice to say MPs have worked with the tools they had, but the understaffing of the Secretariat must be addressed as Parliament cannot depend on one general secretary. "We need to move beyond the cosmetics and the politics of yesteryear."
MPs' number one priority should be "moving country St. Maarten forward [...] not in the things we say, but in the things we do."
After one year later, Marlin said the role of parliament is still misunderstood, not only by a large segment of the public, but by some MPs. The responsibility of parliament, he added, is not to govern; that lies with the government as does the presentation of legislation which parliament has to approve.
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