GREAT BAY--Member of Parliament Viren Kotai is calling on the Ministry of VROMI to consider introducing an official, fee-based expedited permit-processing system and, if necessary, outsourcing parts of the review process to qualified external professionals as the Ministry grapples with a backlog of 662 pending applications.
Kotai raised the proposal during the 2026 budget debate after reviewing figures provided by the Ministry showing that 1,111 applications were received between 2022 and 2026, with 662, or almost 60 percent, still pending. Only 449 applications are no longer pending, although Kotai cautioned that this does not necessarily mean all 449 resulted in permits being issued.
The deterioration in processing rates is particularly pronounced in the most recent years. In 2022, VROMI received 247 applications, of which 82 remain pending. In 2023, 260 applications were received and 101 remain pending. The number increased sharply in 2024, when 123 of 189 applications remained pending, followed by 206 of 260 applications in 2025.
For 2026 thus far, the figures show 155 applications received and 150 still pending, meaning approximately 96.8 percent of applications received this year remain unresolved. By comparison, the pending rate stood at 33.2 percent in 2022, 38.8 percent in 2023, 65.1 percent in 2024 and 79.2 percent in 2025.
Kotai said the figures raise serious questions about whether VROMI, operating at its present pace and capacity, can realistically eliminate the growing backlog.
He also requested a more detailed breakdown from the Ministry showing the actual number of permits issued, applications rejected, applications withdrawn and applications that remain pending for each year.
Kotai stressed that describing the 449 applications that are no longer pending as permits issued could provide an inaccurate picture, since some applications may have been denied, withdrawn or otherwise closed.
Such a breakdown, he said, would allow Parliament to better assess the Department's actual processing capacity and determine where the system is encountering difficulties.
Kotai Proposes Legal Fast-Track Option
Rather than viewing the backlog solely as an administrative problem, Kotai said government should also examine whether it presents an opportunity to improve service while generating additional revenue.
He proposed the creation of an official tiered permit-processing system under which applicants could choose between the normal process at the standard fee or pay a higher government-established fee for expedited administrative processing within a defined timeframe.
Kotai emphasized that paying a higher fee must never mean purchasing approval. All applications would still have to satisfy the same planning, technical and legal requirements.
“Paying more should never mean buying an approval; it should only mean paying for faster administrative processing and a decision within a defined timeframe,” Kotai said.
Under such a system, government could establish different service levels, define processing deadlines and collect additional revenue while creating a transparent route for applicants who need faster decisions.
Kotai also addressed longstanding stories and allegations that some applicants have been able to move applications faster by having the “right person” taken care of. He made clear that he was not presenting such allegations as fact or accusing any individual of wrongdoing.
Instead, he argued that their continued circulation provides another reason for government to create a legitimate and transparent expedited service.
“If there is clearly a demand for faster processing, why aren't we creating a legitimate, transparent and regulated mechanism through which Government itself can provide that service and collect the revenue?” Kotai asked.
Outsourcing Could Help Clear Backlog
Kotai said VROMI should also examine whether portions of the administrative and technical review process could be outsourced if the Ministry lacks sufficient personnel to handle the existing workload.
Under his proposal, qualified external capacity could be procured transparently to assist with processing, while VROMI would remain the regulatory authority and retain responsibility for all final decisions.
Government could establish standards, collect the applicable fees, pay for contracted processing capacity and maintain oversight of the system, with additional revenue used to strengthen the Department and improve future processing.
Kotai described the concept as a possible business model in which government improves public service while ensuring that additional revenue flows into the public coffers rather than creating incentives for informal arrangements.
He asked the Minister of VROMI whether the Ministry has already examined a tiered expedited-processing system, calculated its possible revenue potential or considered outsourcing parts of the permit review process.
Kotai also wants the Ministry to determine what additional staffing or external capacity would be required to guarantee defined processing times and whether revenue generated from expedited applications could be reinvested into strengthening the permitting system.
With almost six out of every ten applications received since 2022 still pending, Kotai said maintaining the existing approach is no longer sufficient.
“We need to clear the backlog, improve processing times, improve transparency and generate revenue where legitimate opportunities exist,” Kotai said.
He added that if applicants are willing to pay for faster processing, government should establish a legal and accountable system where the additional money goes directly into government revenue, applicants receive a defined level of service and every payment is accounted for.
