SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - Member of Parliament (MP) Darryl York has raised concerns over the ongoing delay of his long-requested parliamentary meeting on the state of housing in Sint Maarten, stating, “We can’t continue to treat housing like a chapter that keeps getting pushed to the next edition of government’s book of promises.”
The meeting, initially requested in May while York served as Chairman of the VROMI Committee, was postponed at the request of Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs to October. However, with the final October parliamentary schedule now released and no housing meeting listed, York says the lack of prioritization is unacceptable.
“When the request was made, the Minister had already been in office for eleven months,” York noted. “Now, 6 months later, Parliament and the people still have not received a single update on the state of housing or the government’s plan moving forward.”
York said that while he initially showed understanding toward the Minister’s request to reschedule, the continued silence sends the wrong message to the public.
“By no means was/am I demanding a full-blown solution, but at this point, not even sharing plans or at least providing an update is deeply concerning. A year and a half is long enough. Our people have waited long enough.”
The MP also questioned the government’s handling of recent land purchases intended for housing development. “Millions of guilders were spent on acquiring land. One would assume that was done with a plan. If there is a plan, then share it with Parliament, thus the people. If there isn’t, that raises even more concern.”
York, who has repeatedly highlighted housing as one of the country’s biggest challenges, reminded that he pledged at the opening of the new parliamentary year to be more assertive with the Ministry of VROMI. “The trial period is over,” he said. “It’s time for results”.
For many Sint Maarten families still waiting for affordable or social housing opportunities, York says the lack of updates feels like being forgotten. “It’s not about figures or floor plans, it’s about ensuring families that there's light at the end of the tunnel. They deserve answers, and I intend to get them. Because at some point, patience stops being a virtue and starts being an excuse.”
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