From left are MPs Rolando Brison (independent), Rodolphe Samuel (NA), Ludmilla Duncan (NA), initiative taker Anna Richardson (NA), Christophe Emmanuel (NA), Tamara Leonard (UD) and Sidhart “Cookie” Bijlani (UD).
PHILIPSBURG–The proposal by National Alliance (NA) Member of Parliament (MP) Anna Richardson for the establishment of a Permanent Committee of Parliament of District Community Councils and Neighbourhood Associations, was unanimously approved during a plenary public session of parliament on Thursday.
The purpose of establishing a Permanent Committee of District Community Councils in Parliament is to create a direct and effective line of communication between MPs, government, residents and other relevant stakeholders. Priority issues raised by the councils and passed on to government should be considered and/or reacted to within three months. This ensures that communities are seeing first-hand the reaction and response of government to their submissions.
The Committee is expected to meet with community council representatives on a quarterly basis to gain insight to the particular grievances, activities and/or needs of the residents. Parliament, based on a quarterly report from the Committee of District Councils to the relevant Ministers, can question the Ministry/Ministers on the execution (or lack thereof) of projects and/or why particular problems are not being addressed or solved. Issues submitted by the council representatives are to be categorized by Ministry.
The Committee would also be tasked with making in-person visits to the various neighbourhoods to gain further, first-hand insight as to what is being shared with them during quarterly meetings, as is done with visits to schools, shelters, the prison et cetera.
The St. Maarten Development Fund (SMDF) is one party that is working hard to structure and profile community associations and district councils to the point where in the very near future, members of these groups will have the opportunity to share their concerns with one another and hopefully with the establishment of the committee, be heard by the Parliament of St. Maarten, which is tasked by the electorate to represent them and make inquiries on the behalf of their constituents.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/93249-richardson-s-proposal-for-permanent-committee-of-parliament-approved
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