PHILIPSBURG:--- The National Alliance (NA) faction in Parliament is seeking clarification on the unexplained delay in the official publication of the approved 2025 National Budget. Despite Parliament approving the budget on January 17th, 2025, it hasn’t been published in the National Gazette, a necessary step to take legal effect. The NA faction has formally requested an update from the President of Parliament on the reason for this delay and inquired when the budget will be published.
According to Article 82 of the Constitution of Sint Maarten, national ordinances such as the national budget are adopted by both the government and Parliament. Furthermore, Article 89 states that national ordinances must be published before they can take effect, which implies that the government cannot lawfully operate under the 2025 budget until its official publication.
This situation is especially concerning given that the National Alliance had previously questioned the urgency with which the budget was pushed through Parliament. Despite its approval, the budget remains unpublished, further delaying the process and raising serious concerns about transparency and efficiency. The NA faction is particularly troubled by these delays, as they are eager to see the timely execution of key budgetary allocations, including the implementation of ASYCUDA, the payment of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), vacation pay, school subsidies, the amendments approved during the budget debate, and the long-overdue back pay for justice personnel.
The National Alliance faction urges the government to act swiftly in finalizing this process to ensure the budget can be implemented without further delay. The budget is a critical financial instrument, and its proper implementation is necessary for the country’s stability and development.
