Parliament will not contribute to English Translations — Each Minister needs to contribute and start the process — DP Leader.

December 13, 2016

PHILIPSBURG:— Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot Williams demanded the Council of Ministers to come back to parliament in the second round with a sound plan of approach on how they will start to implement the English language.

Wescot Williams made clear that she will not be signing a governing accord that does not have that in it, she said that each Minister should put aside NAF 50,000.00 which will give government NAF350,000.00 which could be used to start off the project to establish the English Language within the government. The chair lady of parliament made clear that government better not look towards parliament to contribute to that project because of the government of St. Maarten already slashed the budget of government.

Wescot Williams made clear that she had three motions to present to parliament, but she would not do it in the first round but instead she will give the government the opportunity to come back with a sound plan of approach on the implementation of the English language. Wescot Williams also outlined the difficulty civil servants have with the English Language. She said some of the advisors to the Ministers cannot even speak English yet they have to advise Ministers on documents they receive from the high councils of state.