Constitution passed

WILLEMSTAD--Between midnight Friday and Saturday night, Curaçao got a new MFK/PS/MAN Executive Council, the draft constitution for the future country was passed and the incoming Island Council took a decision to participate in Thursday's Round Table Conference (RTC) on the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles effective 10-10-10.

The new coalition of MFK (five seats), PS (four seats) and MAN (two seats) had still seemed in doubt up to Friday evening after critical statements from PS leader Helmin Wiels.

However, the three parties got together at the faction offices of the Antillean Parliament at Wilhelmina Plaza and reached an agreement shortly after midnight, which they dubbed "Akuerdo di Alameda" (as the square in Punda is popularly known).

The newly elected Island Council took office on Saturday and appointed six members of the Executive Council: MFK three, PS two and MAN one. For MFK, Jacintha Constancia (ex-FOL) became Commissioner of Public Health & Social Affairs, businessman Rudney "Ons" Garmes became Commissioner of Tourism & Economic Affairs and attorney Sheldry "Michael" Osepa became Commissioner of General Affairs & Constitutional Structure.

For PS, Ivar Asjes (ex-PLKP) became Commissioner of Finance and former "Kas di Kultura" director Rene Rosalia became Commissioner of Education, Culture & Sports. For MAN, political leader Charles Cooper became Commissioner of Infrastructure.

Parties also decided Kenneth Gijsbertha (MAN) would become acting Lt. Governor, Dean Rozier (MFK) chairman of the Central Committee and Eugene Cleopa (MAN) acting chairman.

That MKF-leader Gerrit Schotte, PS-leader Wiels and Eunice Eisden, who headed the MAN-list in the recent election, are not part of the Executive Council may have to with the fact one can no longer be commissioner and member of the Island Council at the same time.

This is because the latter is to become the first Parliament of country Curaçao and -as is the case with the current Antillean Government- future members of the Council of Ministers won't be able to occupy a seat in the legislature based on the separation of powers ("Trias Politica").

The first meeting of the new Executive Council took longer than expected and the second session of the incoming Island Council to deal with the constitution did not start until 8:00pm.

In the end it was approved with 15 votes for and six against, with MFK voting in favour of the draft along with now opposition parties PAR (eight seats), FOL (one) and PNP (one), while its coalition partners PS and MAN rejected it.

From that moment it was also clear a delegation would travel to The Hague on Sunday for deliberations ahead of the September 9 RTC. Before the latter takes place, the Kingdom Council of Ministers is still to meet while the Second Chamber of Dutch Parliament must approve the execution of the amended Kingdom Charter so the new relations can take effect.

However, the new MFK/PS/MAN coalition with its minimal 11-10 majority also passed a so-called Island Council decision confirming participation in the RTC, but instructing its delegation to come to agreement with the other Kingdom partners on a clear regulation to terminate the Kingdom consensus laws and on including -possibly in the Kingdom Charter- a procedure for the island to become independent.

The decision also calls for the start of a process to change the now approved constitution with a public consultation (referendum) after country Curaçao is born.

Also approved without a vote during the meeting was the statute for the new Central Bank Curaçao and St. Maarten are to share, along with a joint currency to be called "Caribbean guilder."