PHILIPSBURG–National Alliance Member of Parliament Darryl York is calling for the urgent establishment of a national sargassum response taskforce and greater government accountability as St. Maarten braces for what scientists warn could be a severe seaweed season.
York said that while operational responsibility lies with the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Infrastructure and Environment VROMI, Parliament has a critical role in ensuring the country is properly prepared and that response measures are clearly defined and adequately resourced.
“My focus has been on the broader issue driving it, climate change and our preparedness. Today it is sargassum, tomorrow it is flooding or erosion. These are connected impacts,” York told “The Daily Herald”. “While this situation needs immediate attention, in Parliament I have been pushing for a long-term strategy, so we stop reacting to one crisis at a time.”
He stressed that Parliament does not execute operational responses such as beach cleanups, but is responsible for ensuring the competent ministry is acting in a timely and accountable manner.
“As an MP, my role is to ensure that the responsible ministry is prepared, has a clear plan, and is acting in a timely and accountable manner,” York said. “I cannot run the operation, but I can ensure there is structure, funding clarity, and public accountability.”
To strengthen coordination, York said he will advocate for the immediate establishment of a temporary Sargassum Taskforce bringing together VROMI, Public Health, Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication TEATT, the Port, environmental stakeholders and private sector operators.
“A taskforce ensures defined roles, accountability, and ongoing monitoring,” he said, adding that he intends to submit formal parliamentary questions seeking clarity on preparedness, budget allocation, contractor capacity, disposal strategy and public health safeguards, as well as pushing for a prioritised shoreline response plan.
York, who has an engineering background, also outlined practical mitigation measures that could reduce the impact if implemented early.
“Where feasible, interception offshore can reduce beach accumulation. Rapid removal before decomposition limits hydrogen sulfide risks and reduces complexity. Clear public health communication is essential, especially for vulnerable residents,” he said. “Identifying containment and disposal sites in advance prevents last-minute improvisation.”
He also encouraged a coordinated public-private response, noting that marinas, contractors, hotels and equipment operators may have assets that could support early intervention efforts.
“The earlier we act, the lower the environmental and economic impact,” York said.
York said the sargassum threat also highlights broader structural challenges facing St. Maarten in accessing climate adaptation resources despite its vulnerability as a small island territory.
The Netherlands allocates roughly €200 million annually toward climate-related initiatives through international financing mechanisms. Yet St. Maarten, though functionally a Small Island Developing State in vulnerability, is treated as a developed state due to our Kingdom status, limiting direct access to certain climate funds,” he said.
He pointed to provisions within the Kingdom Charter that provide a basis for shared responsibility in addressing climate-related risks and said he would advocate for a broader Climate Adaptation and Preparedness Program within a Kingdom framework.
“Sargassum, flooding, erosion and extreme weather should fall under one structured, funded strategy. In the short term, we strengthen response capacity. In the long term, we secure sustainable adaptation funding, dedicated equipment and technical expertise,” York said. “St. Maarten alone cannot legislate nor fund global climate change away, but we can make a clear case for fair burden sharing within the Kingdom and ensure we are equipped to manage its impact.”
Scientists and environmental experts have warned that St. Maarten could face one of its most severe sargassum seasons in recent years, with Atlantic biomass levels significantly above historical averages and the first major landings expected in the coming weeks.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/york-calls-for-sargassum-taskforce-ahead-of-expected-seaweed-season
MP York, I have always supported your initiatives, this one eludes me. Though your suggestion about preparedness is a valid one considering Sint Maarten’s history with nature, Sargassum is natures impact on the planet overwhelmingly. With regards to the issue of Sargassum affecting us in the Caribbean being naive is on a whole different level. I am yet to understand the real purpose of this task force, what experience will they have, what is the nature of their responsibility, are they going to be busy doing nothing because it reeks of just that. Beach cleanup can be quite noble but let’s be real, cleanup during Sargassum season is like spitting in the wind. Even if mechanisms can be established to curtail sargassum offshore it will affect other avenues of the economy such as fisheries. Decomposition of sargassum reduces oxygen levels causing hypoxic and anoxic scenarios, killing marine habitat.
Some key questions and suggestions come to mind, can we predict how much metric tons of sargassum will be washed up on our shores? (No). Where will it be stored after cleanup, can the public be protected from toxic exposure to high levels of heavy metals such as arsenic associated with decomposing sargassum if not, can the medical sector provide palliative care when it affects human life (may be the useless taskforce will answer that). Does Sint Maarten have a vibrant agriculture sector to assist in processing sargassum (No). Are there any industries that can process Sargassum into paper and cardboard (No). Research was conducted in Curacao on this, MP York the money wasted on your taskforce can be used to pursue this venture creating sustainable employment for underemployed youth on this island.
Research into Sargassum shows that it can be processed into construction materials for low-cost housing, as a civil engineer take up the mantle. It is high time that our politicians stop being rhetorical and look for solutions. In a world where huge players are walking away from international treaties such as the Paris treaty small island states such ours are exceptionally vulnerable, we have to start thinking outside the box.