Lets see if they know what our Members of Parliament dont know on how to handle the Dutch Government. Curaçao Parliament discusses instruction WILLEMSTAD--The Parliament of Curaçao added an additional agenda point to its meeting on Tuesday to discuss with Prime Minister Ivar Asjes (PS) the recent instruction from the Netherlands to the governor of St. Maarten regarding the screening of candidate ministers. The majority spoke out strongly against the measure. Especially some opposition members were quite vocal in their objection to this latest move by The Hague. MAN-leader Charles Cooper said we have to stop the Dutch the hard way. He added that fundamental rights of the people were being trampled. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte thinks he can decide what happens on the islands, if he tries it here blood will flow, he threatened. PAR-member Armin Konket said the instruction not only violates the autonomy of St. Maarten as written in the Kingdom Charter, but has also set a dangerous precedent. According to him, if Curaçaos Minister Plenipotentiary Marvelyne had been told by the government in Willemstad wash her hands in innocence, then the Council of Ministers will not be able to act if the Netherlands instructs the local governor to interfere with the autonomy of Curaçao. The PAR-fraction wanted to know from Asjes whether he agrees that this use of the governor by the Netherlands is in conflict with Article 15 of the Rules of Governor. They asked how the prime minister interprets the actions of the Dutch on St. Maarten, with Konket emphasising that the appointment of cabinet members is a matter of the individual countries and not he kingdom. PAR also requested the decision of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to see what position Wiels took. The Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba was apparently instructed to vote against the decision. However, fraction leader Zita Jesus-Leito warned against seeking an all-out war, as hotheads in the Netherlands but also on Curaçao are going in a direction the people didnt choose. She also emphasised that all kingdom partners should carry their responsibility and stick to agreements. The PS-fraction announced a motion condemning the instruction. The coalition party does not agree with Holland deciding who becomes prime minister and wants the function of governor to be changed to a purely ceremonial one, just like with the Dutch king. MFK-leader Gerrit Schotte said the screening law in the Netherlands itself is not as strict as that of Curaçao. He told his colleagues in the legislature its high time to choose whose side they are really on. PNP-leader Humphrey Davelaar said all these things could be avoided if a veto right for the islands in the Kingdom Council had been demanded when discussing topics directly affecting them. Independent (former PAR) parliamentarian Omayra Leeflang pointed out that its the governors who are executing these instructions. They can judge for themselves and have plenty of advisors, so something must indeed be wrong.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 11:59:05 +0000
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