PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament Ardwell Irion warned during today’s parliamentary meeting that civil servants may once again be left without a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) due to the government’s continued delay in presenting the national budget.
Addressing Parliament during the public meeting, Irion criticized the coalition government’s handling of the country’s finances, stating that the absence of an approved budget is directly impacting workers and ordinary citizens.
“Civil servants can’t get a COLA because there’s no budget,” Irion declared during his address. He further stated that government employees would also be unable to legally receive their increased vacation allowance payments, which were expected on June 14.
The MP painted a grim picture of the economic consequences of the delayed 2026 budget, arguing that each month without financial approval deepens the financial strain on public servants and the wider population.
“Every month that this government sits in office is a day that you get poorer,” Irion said.
According to Irion, Parliament had previously received correspondence from the Minister of Finance outlining a timeline that indicated the draft budget would be submitted by May 1. However, he noted that Parliament is still awaiting the document, while lawmakers are expected to travel for upcoming inter-parliamentary meetings, raising further questions about when the budget debate will actually take place.
The former Finance Minister also criticized what he described as misplaced priorities within government and Parliament. He pointed to the swift scheduling of political meetings, including recent motions of no confidence, while discussions on revenue-generating measures and financial reforms remain stalled.
Irion reminded Parliament that members had requested meetings as far back as December 2025 to present ideas aimed at generating additional revenue for the country, but those discussions have yet to materialize.
He also accused the government of lacking creativity in addressing Sint Maarten’s financial challenges and relying instead on increased tax revenues from high fuel prices while refusing to provide tax relief measures to consumers.
The remarks are expected to intensify public debate surrounding the delayed budget process and growing concerns among civil servants over compensation and economic relief measures.