SER says government delays prevented issuance of advice, disrupted its work

GREAT BAY--The Social Economic Council (SER) of St. Maarten has identified significant administrative delays at the Ministry of General Affairs as a major obstacle to carrying out its statutory responsibilities, revealing that Government's failure to finalize required appointments prevented the Council from formally issuing advice and contributed to additional delays of approximately three months.

The disclosure is contained in the SER's 2025 Annual Report, which was published on October 26, 2026. In a section specifically addressing delays at the Ministry of General Affairs, the Council makes clear that some of the setbacks experienced during the year were caused by circumstances outside its control and should not be attributed to shortcomings in the performance of its management, staff or board.

According to the report, although SER Chairman Harlec G.F. Doran was elected in September 2024, Government took approximately five months to finalize the National Decree formalizing his appointment. The Council identifies three formal reminders, dated September 9, October 25 and November 12, 2025, requesting completion of the necessary decree.

The SER explains that the absence of the formal appointment created a legal obstacle to issuing its advice. Under Article 21, paragraph 1, of the National Ordinance SER, proceeding with the signing of advice without the required National Decree would have been contrary to the law.

Consequently, even where the Council had progressed through its internal advisory procedures, it was required to await the completion of the formal appointment process before its advice could be validly signed and issued.

The report also identifies another unresolved appointment involving a nominee of the Windward Islands Civil Servants Union/Private Sector Union (WICSU/PSU). According to the SER, repeated requests were made to Government to finalize the National Decree concerning the nominee, but the appointment was never formalized during the period under review.

The Council states that these administrative constraints contributed to an additional delay of approximately three months in the issuance of advice that had already progressed through its internal processes.

Beyond the immediate postponement of individual advisory reports, the SER warns that such delays have wider institutional consequences. They disrupt work planning, affect established priorities and timelines, contribute to backlogs and place additional demands on management and staff, who must adjust schedules while continuing to fulfill the Council's statutory obligations.

The Council emphasizes that responsibility for completing these administrative procedures rests with the Ministry of General Affairs. It also stresses the importance of recognizing when delays originate within an advisory institution and when they result from actions that must be completed by other government authorities.

Despite those difficulties, the SER reports that 2025 marked a substantial return to its advisory responsibilities following a lengthy period of reduced activity. With its board reinstated, the Council worked to address a backlog of legislative advice dating back to 2023 and finalized 10 comprehensive advisory reports during the year.

Among the matters addressed were proposed adjustments to public transportation bus tariffs, the funding mechanism for Early Childhood Development, the proposed Visitor's Tax and the Sustainable Affordable Accessible Health Care Act (SAAHA).

The Council's consideration of SAAHA included cost containment, the financial consequences for taxpayers and outstanding arrears to Social and Health Insurances (SZV). The SER described the healthcare legislation as one of the major matters requiring extensive stakeholder deliberation during the year.

The board held 23 meetings throughout 2025, including approximately six extraordinary meetings during which experts were invited to provide additional information on SAAHA and the proposed Visitor's Tax.

The Annual Report also outlines the SER's efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation. The Council maintained contact with Government, civil society organizations, international partners and fellow Social Economic Councils within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

A significant development occurred on December 5, 2025, when the SER held its first meeting with the Conseil Économique, Social et Culturel de Saint-Martin (CESC), creating an opportunity for cooperation on shared social and economic challenges affecting both sides of the island.

Internationally, the SER participated in the AICESIS General Assembly held in Curaçao in October 2025, representing the Latin America and Caribbean region as an international board member.

On financial management, the report records total expenditure of XCG 1,162,513 during 2025, below the reported budget total of XCG 1,365,174. The Council attributed lower expenditure in part to an unfilled staff position and reduced material costs, while noting that the figures could not yet be verified against Government's 2025 financial statements.

Chairman Doran reaffirmed the SER's commitment to strengthening cooperation with Government and Parliament through independent research and responsible social dialogue.

The Annual Report presents the Council's renewed advisory activity as an important step toward strengthening its role in national policymaking. However, its findings concerning General Affairs also highlight the extent to which the timely functioning of an independent advisory institution depends on Government completing its own administrative and legal responsibilities.

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