Recently appointed Minister of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Liesbeth Spies starts her first official visit in that capacity to the Windward Islands today. Having a different person in charge of the portfolio that deals with the Dutch Caribbean always offers a bit of a new start, although it involves the same Rutte cabinet and one obviously can foresee a considerable measure of continuity in policy.

Still, the tone set by the minister in Willemstad (see related article) was refreshing, if only because she stayed away from any needless polarisation regarding already-known issues and disagreements between the Netherlands and Curaçao, indicating instead that she would give the Schotte cabinet the benefit of the doubt. That's all anyone can ask for also in St. Maarten, where people are getting tired of the prejudice that is evident when members of the political establishment in The Hague use terms such as "mafia island, corrupt society, pirate's nest," etc., to describe the Dutch side and its people.

In Friday's paper Spies promised she was coming to the islands with an open mind and would be businesslike and professional; polite, yet clear and direct. Especially her intention to obtain her own impression and "not go there wearing glasses of whatever Member of the Second Chamber" inspires confidence that the new minister indeed will be fair.

That does not change the fact that she fully expects agreements to be kept. However, she might be at least somewhat receptive towards practical problems being experienced, for example, in executing the so-called Plans of Approach to strengthen certain government areas it was believed the new autonomous countries St. Maarten and Curaçao were not completely ready to handle on their own following the dismantling of the Netherland Antilles per 10-10-10.

The minister should be welcomed in turn with open arms and given the chance to familiarise herself duly with her task, the islands and their populations. She also must be presented an honest and true picture of the current local situation so no misunderstandings arise that could have a negative impact on relations within the Kingdom, which would be in nobody's interest.