PHILIPSBURG: --- Former Minister of VROMI and Member of Parliament Egbert Jurendy Doran opened a heated parliamentary session Tuesday with sharp criticism surrounding the controversial Simpson Bay tree removal that sparked public outrage and demonstrations on Monday, as MPs across the political spectrum accused the government of failing to listen to the people of St. Maarten.
Doran, speaking during notifications ahead of Parliament’s ongoing public meeting with the Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs Jr, stressed that “the numbers don’t lie” while pushing back against claims surrounding the approval process for the controversial permit extension.
“I also used to work in VROMI,” Doran stated. “Yes, I do believe that this current Minister approved an extension last year, but that was made with the number 205 of 2022, which means that the draft decree to actually approve that extension was made in 2022.”
Doran urged the Minister to present “all of the facts” when addressing the nation on the matter, setting the tone for what became an emotionally charged exchange centered on environmental protection, public frustration, and government accountability.
Several MPs used the opportunity to express solidarity with residents of Simpson Bay, where demonstrators gathered on Monday to protest the removal of a historic tree many residents viewed as symbolic of the district’s identity.
MP Raeyhon Peterson echoed Doran’s remarks, arguing that the public deserved complete transparency regarding the permitting process and the timeline of approvals.
MP Christopher Wever, however, criticized what he described as political opportunism surrounding the protests, pointing to Parliament’s own failure to secure a quorum for a Nature Policy meeting held just one day earlier.
“Yesterday, the nature policy plan and the Minister were here to present it and had to go because we didn’t have a quorum,” Wever said. “Yet today, when a tree falls down, they want to stand with people’s sympathy.”
MP Darryl York reminded Parliament that environmental concerns had already been formally addressed through a motion passed unanimously in October 2024 aimed at protecting sensitive coastal and environmental zones, including Mullet Bay.
York said the motion called for zoning protections, mandatory environmental impact assessments, and guaranteed public beach access, but lamented that little action had followed.
“This is one of those examples of a motion being passed and nothing being done with the motion,” York stated, adding that repeated requests for updates and meetings had gone unanswered.
MP Omar Ottley said the Simpson Bay protest represented an explosion of long-standing frustrations within the community.
“These people have been complaining, not now,” Ottley said. “What you saw was overflow. The complaints have been going to VROMI. Yesterday, the people had had enough.”
Ottley warned that similar demonstrations could continue across the country if authorities fail to address public concerns.
“Unfortunately, that’s when things get done,” he said.
MP Egbert Jurendy Doran’s earlier remarks were later reinforced by MP Ardwell Irion, who described the tree not merely as vegetation, but as a symbol of displacement felt by longtime Simpson Bay residents.
“The tree is more than just a tree for them,” Irion said. “It’s actually a symbol of the uprooting of the Simpson Bay people in general.”
Irion said the broader issue transcended any one minister or administration, calling instead for a national discussion on development and environmental preservation.
“What matters is what we want to do as a community, what we envision for St. Martin going forward,” he stated.
MP Lyndon Lewis praised demonstrators for exercising their democratic rights peacefully and criticized what he described as a culture in which citizens feel unheard until public action draws attention.
“I stand in solidarity with you all with regards to what’s happening,” Lewis declared, while also shifting focus toward broader economic concerns involving utilities and fuel prices.
Meanwhile, MP Sjamira Roseburg defended the public’s right to protest, saying citizens must continue making their voices heard when they feel ignored by authorities.
“I commend the community of Simpson Bay for making their voice heard in a positive, nonviolent manner,” Roseburg said.
The parliamentary meeting with the Minister of VROMI continues amid growing public pressure for answers regarding the permit process, environmental oversight, and the future direction of development policies on St. Martin.