~Questions govt on range of issues~
PHILIPSBURG--Unified Resilient St Maarten Movement (URSM) Member of Parliament (MP) Christopher Wever has proposed that government consider covering 100% of student debt for its employees, instead of the current 50%, as part of efforts to attract and retain qualified workers.
He also questioned funding for special needs education, the shortfall in Onderstand, garbage collection contracts and the availability of affordable housing.
During Wednesday's debate on the draft 2027 budget, Wever suggested that full student debt coverage could be offered based on a positive employee evaluation and a commitment to work for government for an agreed number of years.
He raised the proposal while questioning the recurring staffing shortages within government and the need to make public service more competitive with the private sector.
Wever asked about plans to provide the National Development Foundation (PNO) with the assistance it needs, including through a recruitment agency, and questioned what the organisation's vision was for competing with the private sector in attracting employees.
Wever asked the Minister of Finance whether the tax system could be reviewed to identify ways of providing additional assistance to institutions dealing with special needs education and parents of children with special needs.
He pointed out that the costs associated with special education extend beyond specialised assessments to include school materials and qualified teachers.
Wever said he was willing to meet with the Minister to discuss possible solutions and determine whether he could assist through Parliament.
He also questioned the Minister of Education about the proposed roadmap for special needs education, asking how it would affect the sector, when it could realistically be completed and implemented, and whether sufficient funding was available in the 2027 budget if implementation was expected that year.
Addressing the Minister of General Affairs, Wever raised questions about personal data protection as Government moves towards digital governance.
He asked what safeguards were already in place, whether Government intended to appoint a Data Protection Officer and whether the position had been included in the 2027 budget.
He also questioned how the absence of a budgeted position would affect the implementation of digital governance.
Under the Ministry of TEATT, Wever asked whether there was interest in developing a medical tourism hotel close to the hospital.
He also welcomed the inclusion of US preclearance in the Ministry's vision but asked the Minister to clarify whether the United States remained interested in the initiative, following reports that it was no longer interested.
On transportation, Wever raised the possibility of introducing water taxis as an alternative route to the port, particularly given the port's future home-porting ambitions.
He also revisited a proposal to upgrade the road in front of the airport's landing strip leading towards Beacon Hill. He said the proposal had been discussed before Hurricane Irma and involved an agreement with the airport, Maho and Morgan Hotel, but was not executed because of financial constraints following the hurricane. He asked whether the parties were still willing to move ahead with the project.
Wever requested an update on repairs to the bleachers at the Raoul Illidge Sports Complex, asking when the work would be completed. He also raised concerns about traffic congestion caused by school buses stopping frequently to pick up students.
Regarding culture, he referred to plans presented several years ago for the upgrading and expansion of the Culture Centre. He said there was a need for a proper performing arts building and asked whether the Minister had met with Culture Centre representatives to discuss the plans and determine the next steps towards making the project a reality.
Wever questioned the difference between the proposed Cg.12 million budget for Onderstand and the Cg.8.2 million included in the submitted budget. He asked how the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) intended to address the Cg.3.8 million funding gap and ensure vulnerable individuals and families received the financial assistance to which they were entitled.
Under VROMI, Wever asked whether the pedestrian crossings being repainted would be accompanied by proper road markings at roundabouts and traffic lights. He also sought clarification on the garbage collection tender, asking whether it was a completely new tender or a retender and what changes had been made between the first and second tender.
He questioned why the first tender reportedly limited companies to one parcel, while the new tender could allow one company to receive multiple parcels.
Wever also asked whether a company could win a tender without having the equipment needed to carry out the required work. He sought clarification on how a new company without a track record, experience or garbage collection equipment could potentially win multiple parcels. He further asked what would happen if a company could not submit required documents on time because of delays caused by a Government department or entity.
Wever also requested an update on roadside cleaning.
On housing, he asked whether the Minister had met with the Housing Foundation to discuss the homes in FOGA and the emergency homes in South Reward. He recalled that, during his time as Minister, the Housing Foundation had no objections to transferring those homes to the people living in them. He said this would allow those residents to become homeowners immediately.
He asked whether the Minister would be willing to meet with the Housing Foundation if such a meeting had not yet taken place and when an update could be expected. Wever also questioned whether there was a backlog in the processing of permits and whether external companies could be used to help reduce it.
He agreed that building new roads alone would not resolve the island's traffic problems and referred to the Spatial Development Plan 2030, including its proposed links, water taxi connections and parking considerations.
