PHILIPSBURG--New President of Parliament Rodolphe Samuel says one of his priorities will be to bring "the meaning and purpose of Parliament closer to the people of St. Maarten."
Samuel, a veteran legislator, having served in the Parliament of the former Netherlands Antilles and in the Island Council of St. Maarten, started his tenure on Sunday, July 15, with his first working day on Monday.
He spent his first day meeting with the Secretary-General of Parliament and staff discussing some of the structural things that are pending and can be addressed while Parliament is on recess. These include some repairs in the hall and other technical issues that can improve the transmission of meetings.
In an invited comment, Samuel said he would work in accordance with the governing programme of the NA/DP/I3 coalition and what the coalition wants to accomplish in general. In guiding the process, he added, the workings of Parliament are still very new to the people of St. Maarten and he intends to sharpen the public's understanding of Parliament.
"Those of us who have lived in Aruba and Curaçao have experienced Parliament and Government. Now the people of St. Maarten need to understand how they can approach and use their Parliament for whatever wishes they may have," Samuel said.
Parliament returns from recess in the first week of August and although no meetings have been scheduled as yet, Samuel said there was an indication from Minister of Finance Roland Tuitt that he might approach Parliament for a meeting on financial matters. However, the minister has not done so as yet.
Samuel also met with Deputy Prime Minister William Marlin on Sunday after a church service to "go over some thoughts, which I think was necessary to do."
As for what kind of President of Parliament the people will be getting, Samuel said the people could expect "the same guy – someone you can always approach, willing to listen and hear you and open."
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