PHILIPSBURG – This week, the Parliament of Sint Maarten decided to reestablish a committee tasked with creating a roadmap for organizing a referendum on the island's independence. The committee, consisting of newly appointed members, will review the work done by the previous committee and report on their findings. Additionally, the committee is tasked with outlining the steps needed to organize a referendum on independence. 

The committee has been given one month to present its first report to parliament, detailing the revision of the previous work and the further steps required for the referendum process. The members of the committee are Sara Wescot-Williams (DP), Raeyhon Peterson (PFP), Dimar Labega (DP), and Sjamira Roseburg (URSM). 

The decision to reinstate the committee came after a letter was received by parliament on January 13, 2025, from the One SXM Association. In the letter, the organization requested that the parliament organize an advisory referendum on independence. The referendum would ask the people of Sint Maarten a single question: “Independence, yes or no?”