PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Minister of VSA and now MP Omar Ottley called on the current council of ministers to show parliament what they have done over the past year; Ottley said some of the Ministers that are currently in the Council of Ministers will be in office for a year, yet the budget they presented to parliament is 90% from the government he served.
Ottley said the current Council of Ministers is stuck on the four years the government he was part of, forgetting that the factions that make up the current coalition government were part of the government for four or more years.
“The chairlady of parliament, Sarah Wescot Williams, was in government for more than four years representing the DP faction, Franklyn Meyers was also in government for more than four years, and so is Marcel Gumbs from the PFP faction, and Romaine Laville who is now supporting the Minister of VSA.”
Ottley congratulated the Minister of VSA for the increase in the minimum wage and pension. He said that in the past, the ministers blamed him for the minimum wage increase when it was said that he did not follow the law. He said that did not change until he sat with the Minister of Finance and showed her the process.
He warned the Minister of VSA to take the necessary steps to support SZV because the company will lose some 24 million guilders this year; he said he knows that the government will say he was the one in government but reminded them of the health levy that is already prepared and this one of the reasons SZV got positive financial reports for three straight years.
During the 2025 budget debate, Ottley told parliament that the only two Ministers who told parliament and the people of St. Maarten the truth were the Ministers of VSA, Richinel Brug, and Minister of Justice Nathalie Tackling. Both Ministers elaborated on the cuts in the 2025 budget and how they will affect their Ministries.
As for the Minister of Finance, Marinka Gumbs Ottley said he was fooled by the Minister and her slogan when she first appeared in parliament on the Ennia and the 2024 budget amendment. Ottley reminded that Gumbs had on her election posters, “Marinka doesn’t buckle.” However, contrary to the slogan, the Minister buckled to the Dutch twice with her signed agreements.
Otley then remarked on the Cannabis legislation, which he said would generate revenue for the country but that he said is a process. The legislation must be presented to parliament before it becomes law.
He warned the Minister that if the draft legislation is not worked upon, he will do it from the benches of parliament.
MP Ottley also asked Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina to tell parliament if any invoice was submitted to the government for the formation of the government. He said if an invoice was submitted, he wanted to know what the formation costs the government.
He also called on the Minister of TEATT to go ahead with the investigation, which she said she would conduct to determine what happened to the money that was on the accounts of EDC. The Member of Parliament said after the investigation is conducted, he would like for the Minister of TEATT to make the findings known.
