WILLEMSTAD--Informateur Pedro Atacho completed his rounds of exploratory talks related to the formation of the new and last Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles in Aruba on Thursday, with Aruba Prime Minister Mike Eman giving his support for the continued dismantling of the Antilles.
Atacho's job as Informateur ends today, Friday, when he hands in to Governor Frits Goedgedrag the "Declaration of Willingness" signed by parties that won one or more seats in the January 22 Parliamentary Elections and have signalled their willingness to work together to form the new Central Government that is to take office in March together with what is to be the last Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles.
It is expected that the government formation will be wrapped up in St. Maarten during the week of February 17. However, Atacho is yet to make this official. The new government is expected to be headed by incumbent Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage (PAR), with the National Alliance of St. Maarten as one of the coalition partners.
Atacho told The Daily Herald Thursday that his trip to Aruba had been a success, with both the Parliament and the Council of Ministers of that island giving their support to the ongoing dismantling. Aruba's support is critical, because it also will have to approve the changes to the Kingdom Charter that will see the new Countries Curaçao and St. Maarten established within the Dutch Kingdom, come 10-10-10.
Atacho also will propose that the new Antillean Central Government set a date with Aruba for a meeting of the Council of Ministers of Cooperation to review the existing cooperation agreement between the two countries. This agreement covers services such as meteorology, aviation, Capriles Clinic, the National Lottery and the Youth Correctional Facility GOG, among others. The two countries usually meet yearly to review the financial statements for these services.
An inventory of all the laws the Antilles and Aruba have to approve simultaneously will also be on the agenda when the representatives of the two countries meet.
Other "good news" from the Aruba visit is the willingness of Prime Minister Eman to initiate talks on a new joint cooperation agreement for Aruba with soon-to-be Countries St. Maarten and Curaçao, Atacho said.