WILLEMSTAD--Antillean Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage is not easing up, now that her lobby offensive has contributed towards the outgoing Dutch Parliament still handling the Consensus Kingdom Laws regarding constitutional changes within the Kingdom.
The prime minister has realised that keeping this legislation on the agenda of the Dutch Parliament's Second Chamber does not automatically secure the most favourable result from that debate for the Antilles.
"Our lobby work will continue, based on the excellent relationship between my government and the Balkenende cabinet. It has been proven, once again, that one must have confidence and optimism in this process. We chose not to travel to the Netherlands, but to manage this situation from Curaçao, and look what we accomplished," said a radiant De Jongh-Elhage during a press conference in the meeting room of the Council of Ministers.
She expressed her gratitude to the various Dutch administrators involved in the political lobbying process. These were Thom de Graaf, Atzo Nicolaï, Alexander Pechtold and Ank Bijleveld-Schouten.
It did not escape the PAR leader that a CDA member of the Second Chamber's Committee for Antillean and Aruban Affairs NAAZ stated that "the letter from the Antillean Government to continue with the legislation course was a decisive factor for CDA" not to declare the matter controversial.
De Jongh-Elhage considers it fair that the caretaker cabinet in the Netherlands knows how to close ranks regarding this matter that is so important for the Antilles: "Let's not forget that the Balkenende IV cabinet did not fall because of Antillean affairs but regarding Uruzgan" (a province in Afghanistan).
Against that backdrop, the prime minister finds it exceptionally positive that "the relationship within the Kingdom is not unnecessarily marred" because of a PvdA member of the NAAZ committee. Although PvdA withdrew from the cabinet, the party is not at loggerheads with former coalition partners regarding Antillean affairs.
In reaction to a comment from Johan Remkes (VVD), who wanted to declare several Kingdom Consensus Laws controversial, that he would "stake a good bottle of wine on the legislation not being completed before October 10," De Jongh-Elhage said she would "send a good bottle of wine to Remkes now," because now that she has won the bet and Remkes owes her a "good bottle of wine," she will still invite him to celebrate with the Antilles.
Yesterday, Sunday, the prime minister and Curaçao's General Affairs Commissioner Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR), as the relevant authorised authorities, signed for the transfer of Central Government tasks to the Curaçao Island Territory, as of today, Monday, March 15. This also marks a concrete and crucial phase en route to the new autonomous Country Curaçao.
