PHILIPSBURG–The formalisation of Parliament’s ad hoc committee to investigate and make recommendations on electoral reform and its related terms of reference is expected to come before the legislature on Monday.
Approval of the establishment of the country’s recovery programme bureau that will guide all government-related programmes and projects in the post-Hurricane Irma recovery work is also on Parliament’s agenda for Monday’s public meeting.
Recruitment for some 21 bureau staff members is ongoing. The bureau staff will be paid via the World Bank-administrated St. Maarten Recovery Trust Fund, financed by the Dutch government in the aftermath of Irma.
Parliament faction leaders representing United Democrats, National Alliance, United St. Maarten Party and St. Maarten Christian Party will meet on Wednesday, August 29, to plan for the annual opening of the parliamentary year 2018-2019.
The opening of the parliamentary year is mandated by the Constitution to take place yearly on the second Tuesday in September. At the opening the Council of Ministers presents the state of affairs and its plan of action for the coming year to Parliament. Governor Eugene Holiday, as de facto head of state, delivers the plan on behalf of government.
The opening of the new parliamentary year was held behind closed doors last year due to the onslaught of Hurricane Irma, with no public or press access other than a single radio feed. This was tagged to insufficient space after the hurricane. That opening was held in the Government Administration Building on Pond Island due to severe damage to the upper floor of the former Caribbean Palm building on Wilhelminastraat that houses Parliament.
Irma struck the island on September 6 causing widespread devastation and destruction. It temporarily paralysed the tourism-driven economy which is now slowly seeing some movement and recovery.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/79928-electoral-reform-committee-up-for-formalisation-monday
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