~MP questioning begins Friday; ministers get approximately 30 minutes each, at least two ministers must remain in Parliament, and sessions are not expected to run beyond 9 p.m.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams has laid out an intensive schedule to continue handling Sint Maarten’s draft 2026 National Budget, with parliamentary proceedings potentially continuing through Friday, August 28, if necessary.
Wescot-Williams outlined the schedule Thursday, immediately after Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs presented the National Budget and the budget for the Ministry of Finance.
Before calling a 15-minute recess, the Chairlady said she wanted the general public to understand exactly how Parliament intends to proceed with what is expected to be several days of detailed budget scrutiny.
According to Wescot-Williams, Parliament started the process Thursday, August 20, and intends to continue Friday, August 21; Monday, August 24; Tuesday, August 25; Wednesday, August 26; Thursday, August 27; and Friday, August 28, if necessary. Any changes to that schedule will be communicated.
MPs Begin Questioning Government Friday
The first phase of Thursday’s meeting was reserved for presentations by the individual ministers.
Wescot-Williams said each minister would be given approximately 30 minutes to present his or her ministry’s portion of the draft Budget.
The real parliamentary questioning begins Friday, August 21, when MPs will have the opportunity to question Government on the draft Budget.
That stage could prove considerably more contentious, particularly after Parliament approved a proposal reducing MPs’ speaking time for this Budget meeting.
Wescot-Williams confirmed that the speaking time had been adjusted following the proposal of order adopted earlier Thursday.
Ministers to Present in Set Order
The Chairlady also established the sequence in which the Council of Ministers would make their presentations.
Following Finance Minister Marinka Gumbs, Parliament was scheduled to hear from Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs Dr. Luc Mercelina, followed by the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, and finally the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment Infrastructure.
Once Thursday’s ministerial presentations are completed, Wescot-Williams said at least two ministers are expected to be present in the Parliament Hall at all times during the subsequent portions of the Budget meeting.
She stressed that this does not prevent more ministers from attending; two is the minimum expected presence.
Lunch and Supper at Parliament as Debate runs through the day
The schedule underscores the amount of parliamentary work still ahead.
Wescot-Williams said Parliament will provide lunch and supper during the Budget proceedings, with lunch beginning Friday because Parliament expects to continue throughout the day.
But despite the extended schedule, the Chairlady made clear that she does not intend to allow the proceedings to stretch deep into the night.
She said Parliament intends to avoid continuing beyond 9:00 p.m., specifically citing the mental and physical well-being of Parliament’s staff.
Wescot-Williams appealed for cooperation so Parliament can close at a reasonable hour each day.
The timetable means the 2026 Budget could consume another full week of parliamentary proceedings as MPs scrutinize spending plans covering hundreds of millions of guilders across all seven ministries.
And with MPs’ direct questioning of Government beginning Friday, the ministerial presentations are only the opening act.
The real test begins when Parliament starts demanding answers on the numbers, projects, spending priorities and promises contained in the 2026 Budget.