• Latest
  • Trending
MP Wescot-Williams Adamant about Her Quest to Place English above Dutch Language

UD Leader, MP Wescot-Williams weighs in on the proposed Caribbean Reform Entity, as proposed by the Government of the Netherlands.

July 20, 2020
Arresto por vandalismo y agresión

Control de tráfico programado en SABA

June 23, 2025
Dos armas de fuego incautadas en operaciones Policiales durante el fin de semana

Dos armas de fuego incautadas en operaciones Policiales durante el fin de semana

June 23, 2025
El Gobierno de Statia se reúne con ING Bank para su próximo lanzamiento en Statia

El Gobierno de Statia se reúne con ING Bank para su próximo lanzamiento en Statia

June 23, 2025
La Cámara de Comercio e Industria (COCI) insta a tomar mayores medidas para abordar el aumento de robos que afectan a la comunidad empresarial y al turismo

COCI exige prácticas de cumplimiento justas y equilibradas ante la creciente preocupación de la comunidad empresarial

June 23, 2025
St. Maarten presenta oportunidades MICE para Latinoamérica en un seminario web estratégico con Copa Airlines

St. Maarten presenta oportunidades MICE para Latinoamérica en un seminario web estratégico con Copa Airlines

June 23, 2025
Los Ministros de Justicia de Sint Maarten, Aruba y Curazao fortalecen la cooperación abordando los desafíos compartidos, el aumento de la violencia y las prioridades estratégicas

Los Ministros de Justicia de Sint Maarten, Aruba y Curazao fortalecen la cooperación abordando los desafíos compartidos, el aumento de la violencia y las prioridades estratégicas

June 23, 2025
Taller de Teatro Musical Recauda 880€ para la Fundación de Alimentación FREEGAN

Taller de Teatro Musical Recauda 880€ para la Fundación de Alimentación FREEGAN

June 23, 2025
Trabajando juntos por un futuro sin violencia doméstica ni violencia contra las mujeres

Trabajando juntos por un futuro sin violencia doméstica ni violencia contra las mujeres

June 23, 2025
Hallan un hombre muerto en residencia de Middle Region

Hallan un hombre muerto en residencia de Middle Region

June 23, 2025
VRIOMI completa la estabilización de emergencia por deslizamiento de tierra en Ebenezer

VRIOMI completa la estabilización de emergencia por deslizamiento de tierra en Ebenezer

June 22, 2025
El KPSM intensifica los controles tras un período de mayor apoyo en emergencias y eventos

El KPSM intensifica los controles tras un período de mayor apoyo en emergencias y eventos

June 22, 2025
Billetes falsos de 100 NAf en circulación: Se insta al público a dejar de aceptarlos

Billetes falsos de 100 NAf en circulación: Se insta al público a dejar de aceptarlos

June 20, 2025
Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Advertise
  • Home
  • ACTUALIDAD
  • English News
  • Gobierno
  • Imagen den dia
  • NOSOTROS EN SINT MAARTEN
  • Salúd
  • Video
  • Contact us
  • King Willem-Alexander formally apologizes for Dutch history of slavery
  • Mensaje de Año Nuevo de la Primera Ministra Silveria Jacobs
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

UD Leader, MP Wescot-Williams weighs in on the proposed Caribbean Reform Entity, as proposed by the Government of the Netherlands.

by The Admin
July 20, 2020
in Parliament
0
MP Wescot-Williams Adamant about Her Quest to Place English above Dutch Language

“No administrative entity can usurp the political authority vested in the democratically elected representatives of the countries”.

Philipsburg St. Maarten, July 19, 2020 – In reacting to the accounts coming out of the Netherlands after the much anticipated meeting of the Kingdom Council  of Ministers on July 10th, MP Wescot-Williams commented that  “these accounts are differing in terms of  what exactly was decided, if anything,  and especially what can be expected in the coming weeks and  months. On  the one hand, it seemed as if the Caribbean countries are in this together, but then again this seems not to be entirely the case.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Los MP Ottley, Lacroes y Lewis presentaron una enmienda al presupuesto para fortalecer la capacidad legislativa del Parlamento

Reunión del Comité Central del Parlamento para deliberar los asuntos relacionados con el proyecto de Ordenanza Nacional y las LBHAM pertinentes sobre la Ley de Asistencia Sanitaria Sostenible, Asequible y de Acceso (SAAHA)

The governments  of St. Maarten, Curacao and Aruba have  conveyed their  objections against the hotly debated new entity, officially the Caribbean Reform Entity (CRE). State Secretary Knops has given his spin to the proposed entity and its purported usefulness.

MP Wescot-Williams continued: “I got the  impression  however that the door  has been left somewhat ajar and if that turns out to be the case,  St. Maarten should keep it so.”

“We are right now in a precarious situation and while the government of St. Maarten has been alluding to  possible alternatives to tide us over this critical period , I have yet to see one alternative that could kick in on a short enough term to replace the third tranche of liquidity support,  if the Netherlands’ support was to fall through”, stated UD leader, MP Wescot-Williams.

“From what I conclude  from the available documentation, the involvement of the local government is relegated to not much more than a superficial consultation, as this  proposal  on the table gives far reaching   powers to an administrative entity;  powers and decisions that pertain to the political realm of any country.“

The UD leader continued: “It is clear that with the inclusion of country economic reform plans as part of the overall package, the Netherlands is desirous of pinning down our financial,  economic and social policies for the foreseeable future. The  powers and reach of this proposed entity as they currently stand, together with the reigning CFT law render the political authority of the Caribbean countries meaningless. At the very minimum, if all else fails, the government of St. Maarten must at least negotiate an opt-out (exit) and buy-out (payback) clause in the CRE consensus law.”

“Once decisions are taken via the CRE, the CFT will  ensure that the local authorities remain bound to the CRE kingdom law.  Much like the current consensus kingdom laws, getting out of these agreements is not up to the individual countries, even in case of perceived or real overreach by the  CRE.”

In addition to this, St. Maarten is faced with commensurate challenges, such as the stress of the hurricane season, the immediate concerns  of a large part of the population, such as unemployment, the health of the nation and then we have the compliance issues for the 2nd part of COVID-19 assistance from the Netherlands.

Many laws need to be amended to give legitimacy to what the government is undertaking to be in compliance with the conditions already agreed to with the Netherlands. All of this, expected from a government  apparatus  that is stressed and  stretched thin, due to all that is happening in rapid succession.

There seems  to be however,  some points of agreement  between the 3 countries and the Netherlands, such as:

  • The urgency of  major (economic) reforms for  all the countries
  • The need for short, medium and long term  financial and investment impulses.
  • The immediate needs to survive until these reforms start to take shape.

MP Wescot-Williams: “If the Netherlands is serious about true reform and rebuilding, any entity with a role in this process would be one that simultaneously builds a local cadre of professionals. I see none of that in the proposed tasks of the new entry.”

When I look further at the role and function of the proposed entity, these tasks in my view would fit much better in a national development and or investment bank. Options of collaboration in such a venture would be plentiful, inside and outside of the Kingdom. The “steering” that the Netherlands is seeking, would be commensurate with the capital investment from the Netherlands in such an organization. 

The Dutch FMO (Netherlands Development Finance Company) could serve as a model for such an entity and the envisioned (political) checks and balances would be built in from the start.

“Let’s move the relationship with the Netherlands to a more business-like and mature one, acknowledging that political and cultural differences can’t be wished or forced away. As long as we are in this historical-political relationship, we will have to live with those differences. The coalition government of St. Maarten therefore has to make up its mind, one way or the other”, concluded the UD leader and first Prime Minister of St. Maarten, MP Wescot-Williams.

Post Views: 303
Share198Tweet124

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Arresto por vandalismo y agresión

Control de tráfico programado en SABA

June 23, 2025
Dos armas de fuego incautadas en operaciones Policiales durante el fin de semana

Dos armas de fuego incautadas en operaciones Policiales durante el fin de semana

June 23, 2025
El Gobierno de Statia se reúne con ING Bank para su próximo lanzamiento en Statia

El Gobierno de Statia se reúne con ING Bank para su próximo lanzamiento en Statia

June 23, 2025
SXM IslandTime

© 2023 SXM Island Time All Rights Reserved

Navigate Site

  • About
  • advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • ACTUALIDAD
  • English News
  • Gobierno
  • Imagen den dia
  • NOSOTROS EN SINT MAARTEN
  • Salúd
  • Video
  • Contact us
  • King Willem-Alexander formally apologizes for Dutch history of slavery
  • Mensaje de Año Nuevo de la Primera Ministra Silveria Jacobs

© 2023 SXM Island Time All Rights Reserved