SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) - On Monday, October 26, 2026, the President of the Parliament of Sint Maarten, the Hon. Sarah A. Wescot-Williams, participated in a Tripartite Presidents' Meeting. The initiative, which was restarted in 2025 in Sint Maarten, was continued this year under the chairmanship and hosting of the President of the Parliament of Curaçao, Mr. Fergino Brownbill.
Recognizing that the Presidents of the Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten would all be attending the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) meetings in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, from October 26 to 29, 2026, the three Presidents agreed to convene their meeting in Tenerife. EuroLat is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026
During the meeting, President Brownbill, President Wescot-Williams, and the President of the Parliament of Aruba, Mr. Alfred Marlon Sneek, discussed ways to further strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation. Particular attention was given to enhancing collaboration at the parliamentary committee level, building on the strong cooperation already established between the Kingdom Affairs Committees.
The Presidents also explored cooperation in areas such as constitutional affairs, decolonization, and the review and modernization of their respective Rules of Order.
The Presidents exchanged views on participation in regional and international parliamentary organizations, including Parlatino, particularly its Temporary Committee for Caribbean Affairs, and ParlAmericas.
Discussions also focused on strengthening the independence of Parliament as an institution, enhancing public trust in parliamentary democracy, and promoting initiatives such as the development of Codes of Conduct.
In addition, the Presidents discussed training and professional development opportunities for Members of Parliament, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and ensuring that adequate resources are allocated within parliamentary budgets.
They also explored avenues for increased cooperation and exchanges among parliamentary staff to share expertise, experiences, and best practices.
The meeting concluded with agreement on several areas for future collaboration among the three Parliaments of the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Presidents further agreed that the next Tripartite Presidents' Meeting will be hosted by the President of the Parliament of Aruba in 2027.
