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MP Emmanuel says NRPB must explain “1,400 homes” repaired statement

MP Emmanuel says NRPB must explain “1,400 homes” repaired statement

Independent Member of Parliament (MP) wants the Director of the NRPB Claret Connor, through the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, to provide a detailed outline/report to the public of St. Maarten of the 1,400 homes and buildings that State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen said were repaired on St. Maarten.

The MP said it is inconceivable that the State Secretary would provide Dutch MP’s of the Second Chamber such information without the knowledge or information from the NRPB. In responding to questions from the Dutch Parliament last week Van Huffelen said: “The majority of the houses under the current project (Emergency Repair Project-1) have now been repaired. More than 1,400 houses and buildings have been repaired with Dutch resources.”

“Where in St. Maarten do we have 1,400 damaged homes and buildings that the NRPB has repaired almost 5 years after the passing of Hurricane Irma?” the MP asked. “Unless she is in the habit of lying to the Dutch Parliament, the State Secretary would not mention that number unless she got in from someplace. And that source would have to be the NRPB. It’s a ridiculous statement and it has to be addressed,” Emmanuel said.

He pointed out that more than 75% of the hurricane damaged homes and buildings on St. Maarten were repaired by insurance or hard labor by home owners with the help of neighbors. “Insurance and self-repairs happened long before a red cent from the Dutch arrived on St. Maarten,” he stressed.

Moreover, the MP further pointed out that the website of the NRPB states that minor repairs to 40 private homes is ongoing, with phase 2 of 100 to 120 private homes also ongoing. As for social homes, repairs to 109 have been completed and phase 2 will tackle 64.

“Mr. Connor of the NRPB has to finally stop the fancy stories around this home repair program that is moving at a snail’s pace, just like the repairs to the schools and the airport. Information from the NRPB is always inconsistent and unreliable because the story changes almost every day. Today it’s the State Secretary painting an untrue picture to the Dutch government about how their money was or is being spent,” the MP said.

He said if he is wrong, then it behooves Connor to issue a detailed report to the public about the 1,400 homes and buildings that the State Secretary said has been repaired under the emergency program.

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MP DUNCAN TO ADAPT MODEL LAWS ON SPECIAL NEEDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

MP DUNCAN TO ADAPT MODEL LAWS ON SPECIAL NEEDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

On February 14, 2022, the St. Maarten delegation returned from Panama after attending the XXXVI General Assembly for the Parliament of Latin America and the Caribbean (PARLATINO); the first in-person meeting since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. Member of Parliament Solange Ludmila Duncan attended all sessions and upon return, has submitted a full report to Parliament on the matters discussed, model laws approved and possible action points moving forward.

“When I became a Member of Parliament, I joined a variety of Parlatino committees because I do believe that there is value in membership. During my master’s program for instance, much of my research surrounded development policies in Latin America and the Caribbean so I always knew that there were untapped resources or connections that could be of use for the country. We just have not taken as much advantage of those resources as we should,” stated the MP.

During the week of February 7th, Duncan took part in sessions at Parlatino Headquarters for the Committee of Political, Municipal and Integration Affairs. A comprehensive presentation was given by The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)on the issues concerning Covid 19 and methods for integrating tourism, migration, health and economic policy solutions. “During this session I gave a short speech, in Spanish, on St. Maarten’s continued vulnerability owing to both COVID 19 and hurricanes. I also mentioned the need for increased cooperation and knowledge sharing via this body. For those of us like myself who studied Spanish in both high school and college, the language is not as great a barrier as some might believe. At the General Assembly there were diplomats from all around the world who gave speeches in their own languages about what….? Cooperation. We need to see beyond our small differences and focus on what makes us similar and go from there,” noted the MP.

In addition to partaking in committee meetings, the parliamentarians present, in the General Assembly, were allowed to vote on the approval of three model laws. These are draft laws of which each country can adapt as their own. MP Duncan has returned with the enthusiasm that two of the model laws, in particular, compliments the work she is doing in Parliament.

“I was happy to approve and obtain a model law on Special Needs and Inclusive Education. I have been a proponent for reforms and advancement in special needs education on St. Maarten since being elected. This model law will now add substance to the amendments to our education laws that I am working on as it concerns the rights of students who require additional support for special and extraordinary needs.”

The MP plans to adapt a second model law presented at the General Assembly on the prevention and reduction of marine contamination. Biodiversity and environmental protection in the region were important themes during the General Assembly. “Although St. Maarten is making progress as it concerns green policies, as a Parliament, I believe that we have an important job in legislating to protect and preserve our natural heritage.; a heritage that has been overlooked for far too long. This model law focuses on protecting our oceans and lays out the various responsibilities of all stakeholders, in addition to a number of key components.” added the MP.

In addition to legislative amendments, MP Duncan will also be sending letters to various Ministers concerning matters that have arisen from discussions at Parlatino. These matters include poverty alleviation, environmental matters, public management and education. The MP has come to the conclusion that although spending should be limited as it concerns travel for such meetings, membership to PARLATINO is worthwhile and valuable; once utilized effectively.

“I am a regionalist. This is why I asked the Government about securing OECS membership last year and this is why I joined the PARLATINO committees when I joined Parliament. St. Maarten is a beacon of hope for diversity and multi-cultural politics. We should not only be a part of, but tap into the resources offered by, all political or economic organizations within our region. This is also why I believe that French and Spanish should be taught in elementary schools. If we only knew how much we could gain from, but also offer to, organizations like Parlatino within our region, we would be able to more effectively solve many of our national policy dilemmas.’” concluded Duncan.

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MP Emmanuel: 30-minute meeting with Van Huffelen is an insult

MP Emmanuel: 30-minute meeting with Van Huffelen is an insult

MP Emmanuel: 30-minute meeting with Van Huffelen is an insult

Independent Member of Parliament (MP) Christophe Emmanuel on Tuesday said he will not allow the people of St. Maarten to be insulted by new State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen by sitting in a token meeting of 30 minutes to discuss Van Huffelen’s perspective of equality and other pressing matters such as COHO. “I will not waste my time and accept such an insult, I will not sit in that meeting,” MP Emmanuel said.

The MP explained that the Parliament of St. Maarten, more specifically the faction leaders in Parliament, has only been afforded 30 minutes to meet with the State Secretary on Friday upcoming, a meeting with five agenda points and seven faction leaders. He said the State Secretary and the Dutch government is so confident in the COHO which was agreed upon by the UP-National Alliance Government, that they are already treating the Parliament of St. Maarten as an after-thought.

“There are 15 members of Parliament and only 7 faction leaders are allowed to meet. That is the first insult. Then you include a subject such as the COHO and its implications for the country and we are granted just 30 minutes to discuss such a big issue? No sorry, I will not let my people be insulted with such a condescending effort by someone who has never been to St. Maarten but will return to the Netherlands to proudly report she has met with the people and Parliament of St. Maarten,” the MP said.

The MP said Van Huffelen’s casual snub of the Parliament of St. Maarten sends a clear message about what she and the Dutch government think of the Parliament and affirms her recognition that the COHO, agreed to by the UP-National Alliance Government, is basically re-placing the Parliament of St. Maarten.

“The State Secretary is already treating the Parliament of St. Maarten as a courtesy she does not have to respect. With the eventual establishment of the COHO and its far reaching powers along with its control over the budget of the country, through the CFT, the Parliament has been rendered as a rubber stamp and the Dutch know this. Why would they respect Parliament if the Prime Minister has agreed to give away and/or restrict Parliament’s power and responsibilities to the COHO?” the MP asked

He added that he will continue to be open and vocal and fulfill his duties as an MP “come hell or high water, COHO or not” and will not be made a puppet or a powerless symbolic piece in an institution to which the people of St. Maarten elected him to defend their rights.

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