MP York leads Parliament with 33 written-question letters to Ministers

GREAT BAY--National Alliance Member of Parliament Darryl York submitted 33 letters containing written questions to ministers during the 2025-2026 parliamentary year, more than any other MP, according to Parliament’s newly released Annual Report.

York’s total placed him 10 letters ahead of Parliament President Sarah Wescot-Williams, who recorded 23, followed by Egbert Doran with 18, Francisco Lacroes with 17 and Sjamira Roseburg with 12. Parliament describes written questions as an important mechanism through which MPs obtain information, raise matters of public concern and hold ministers accountable for government actions and policies.

The figures are particularly notable in a parliamentary year that saw a sharp increase in written oversight generally. Parliament recorded 114 written-question letters overall, up from 77 in 2024-2025 and 71 in 2023-2024. That represents an increase of approximately 48% in one year.

Parliament cautions that its MP-by-MP table should not be confused with the number of unique letters submitted. A letter may be submitted jointly by two or more MPs or sent to more than one minister, which is why the individual attribution table totals 129 while the three-year overview records 114 letters for the year.

York’s National Alliance also recorded the highest faction total for written-question letters, with 50 attributed to the faction. The Democratic Party followed with 24, the United People’s Party with 23, URSM with 15, NOW with six, PFP with two and SAM with zero.

The annual report also shows York using other parliamentary mechanisms to place issues before government. He requested an October 16 Question Hour with the Minister of Finance regarding oversight of TelEm and management accountability, and on November 17 requested a Question Hour with the VROMI Minister concerning limited burial space and the management of cemeteries in St. Maarten.

York also joined other MPs in requesting urgent parliamentary discussions on several national issues, including developments surrounding the Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten, ENNIA and Mullet Bay, the situation involving fire and ambulance personnel, conditions in public schools, GEBE, and concerns involving the VROMI Ministry.

On VROMI matters specifically, the report records York as requesting committee discussions on the state of national housing, land-use and institutional capacity, as well as cemetery capacity, development planning and related infrastructure policy.

His voting record during the year also shows participation in several of Parliament’s major decisions. York voted in favor of the Basic Payment Account National Ordinance, which passed 14-0, and supported the accompanying motion calling on government to advocate for increasing the maximum monthly deposit limit for the basic account to at least XCG 5,400.

York also voted in favor of the no-confidence motion against VROMI Minister Patrice Gumbs, a motion that narrowly failed by six votes to seven.

Three days later, however, York voted against the no-confidence motion against then VSA Minister Richinel Brug, which passed by eight votes to seven. He subsequently joined all 15 MPs in supporting a motion calling for an investigation into alleged irregularities involving the authorization of a medical practitioner and stronger enforcement of the rules governing medical practice.

Of the 17 decisions for which Parliament published individual voting records, York is listed as casting a vote in 13. The 17 decisions consisted of one national ordinance, five motions, three amendments and eight other parliamentary decisions.

The report also provides a broader picture of York’s participation. He recorded 75% attendance at public meetings, attending 30 of those listed in the attendance table, while his Central Committee attendance stood at 50%, with 17 meetings attended.

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