WILLEMSTAD--One cannot impose gay marriages on an autonomous Curaçao, said General Affairs Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR) during a public meeting of the Island Council. She was responding at the time to statements made by several opposition members suggesting that possibility.

The Island Council was discussing the draft constitution of country Curaçao. The feasibility of the target date October 10, 2010, for the new Kingdom relations to take effect was discussed during the first question round. During the second round, the opposition members frequently focused on the amendments of the various laws for the BES islands that had been approved by the Dutch Second Chamber.

Due to these amendments, matters such as abortion, same-sex marriages, and euthanasia will become legal in Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba in a few years.

Several opposition members such as Helmin Wiels (PS), Nelson Pierre (NPA), and Gregory Damoen (FK) expressed fear that an autonomous Curaçao will soon be confronted with similar laws as well. This was strongly rejected by Jesus-Leito.

"There is a fundamental difference between the future autonomous countries Curaçao and St. Maarten on the one hand, and the BES islands on the other. Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba will soon become part of the Netherlands, while we will become self-governing countries within the Kingdom.

"We have negotiated with our Kingdom partners and concluded agreements on five consensus Kingdom laws that regard specific subjects" such as the draft laws for the police, Joint Court of Justice, Council for Administration of Justice, Prosecution, and Financial Supervision, according to the commissioner. "We will handle all other matters," she emphasised.

Jesus-Leito explained once again that the Netherlands couldn't impose matters such as gay marriages on a self-governing Curaçao. "This requires amendment of our Civil Code and the Netherlands does not have a voice in this. To change that, our Parliament will have to adopt an amendment to the law."