PHILIPSBURG–Members of Parliament (MPs) will discuss a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into Mullet Bay tabled by MP Rolando Brison during a plenary public session of Parliament at 2:00pm today, Tuesday.
Entitled “Proposal for Parliamentary Inquiry: Giving Mullet Bay Back to the People,” the proposal calls for an inquiry into the ownership of the Mullet Bay area (issues with certificates of admeasurements and lack of deeds), the current situation that exists between its current owner, government and citizens and the need for Parliament and government to intervene “in every feasible way possible to protect one of its most precious coastal and inland waterways in the national interest of the country,” it was stated in a press release from the MP.
Brison stressed in the release that “the people of St. Maarten should not have to wait another 24 years” to get “the truth” about Mullet Bay and “why the country has been held hostage for so long.
“We do not know the truth and we do not have a way forward. This inquiry will get us to the truth and will help define a way forward and end this situation,” Brison said.
According to the release, it will be a historic moment for the Parliament of St. Maarten being the first time an MP submitted a proposal to initiate a Parliamentary inquiry. Brison said a Parliamentary inquiry is the strongest tool the legislative body has at its disposal to address the many current issues related to Mullet Bay.
He also said there are some MPs that no matter what is presented, no matter what answer is given, “I don’t think I could convince them that this inquiry is good for St. Maarten.” He said this will not deter him.
“I will put my all if Parliament allows this inquiry. We have to know why the situation at Mullet Bay was allowed, how did it happen and how do we ensure that it never happens again. That is why I stand fully behind this inquiry,” he said.
The proposal outlines four research objectives: “Legislative shortcomings allowing for this problem to exist and the effects of jurisprudence that may have resulted through litigation, particularly in regard to the ownership of conflict zones such as the beach and the pond and how these shortcomings should be addressed (new legislation, amended legislation, budgetary amendments, instructions to government by means of an amendment in the governing programme).
“What actions government can and should take to ensure the property is used in the best interest of the people of the country, being proactive ahead of potential irrevocable actions, such as auctions and/or settlements by the Central Bank, which may or may not be in the best interest of St. Maarten. Finding a fully sustainable, environmentally friendly solution to the development of Mullet Bay and continued protection of its natural resources – zoning, expropriation, assigning monument status. (And) the lack of economic activity for the area more than 24 years, what this has cost the country and what economic benefits could be derived from the country if it were developed in a sustainable manner.”
The proposal calls for the inquiry to be executed in four phases: The preliminary information gathering phase, verification and hearing phase, where the commission will be able to verify information, hear witnesses and seek advice from external entities for possible solutions, reporting phase, where the information is placed by the commission into a report, conclusions and actions, where the conclusions from the report are delivered and debated by Parliament, actions agreed and the commission continues to follow up to ensure action is taken after the report is debated by Parliament, the release said.
The public can follow the deliberations in person at the House of Parliament located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.
The session will be carried live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, 107.9FM, 98.1FM, www.pearlfmradio.sx, www.sxmparliament.org and Parliament’s Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/92235-mps-to-discuss-brison-s-mullet-bay-proposal-today
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