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www.sxmislandtime.com
 WILLEMSTAD/GREAT BAY - Opposition parties in Curacao are not moved by recent pleas of Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage,
for all the parties to form a united front to send a clear message to Holland that the constitutional deadline of 10/10/10 should not be affected by the fall of the Dutch Government.
De-Jongh-Elhage, who was speaking as leader of the PAR party recently, called for all political parties in Curacao to champion on behalf of the island and the rest of the Netherlands Antilles that 10/10/10 be a fixed date for constitutional change, regardless of the political developments in Holland.
Gonzalo Cuales of Z86 radio in Curacao reported that the opposition parties are not enthusiastic about de Jongh-Elhage's idea. In fact, the parties chastised the coalition partners, arguing that the central government had boasted when the constitutional agreements were signed, that it "was set in stone" and could not be changed. Calling for support now, is nonsense the parties believe.
There is still no indication how the fall of the Dutch government will affect the target date for constitutional reform of the Netherlands Antilles. The prime minister's plea is quite contrary to her response to the fall of the government last weekend.
Then, she said this new political development would not have affected the constitutional process in the islands. Now, it appears she is making an "about turn" on her pronouncement.
Even the opposition Democratic Party on St. Maarten was concerned that the fall of the Dutch government would have affected the constitutional process. DP leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said Sunday that the time had come to close ranks in order to achieve the desired constitutional results.
"Notwithstanding the State Secretary's admonishment that if 10-10-10 is to be achieved, the Dutch Parliament needs to handle these laws as soon as possible, the same parliament feels they should set their own agenda," Wescot-Williams said.
"The parliament hinted to the handling of these laws in April, at the same time wanting to visit the islands during the month of April and preferably before they deal with the draft laws."
Political commentators in Curacao are suggesting that the opposition parties are using the fall of the Dutch government as a political tool to wage war on the coalition partners and are thus not taking the plea of the PAR leader seriously. It is now a wait and see game for the political parties in the Antilles.
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