Smaller islands, Dutch Govt
start off mini summit today
PHILIPSBURG/THE HAGUE--Delegations of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius are continuing their talks with the Dutch Government about direct ties with the Netherlands in The Hague today, Tuesday.
The three smaller islands are positive about securing an agreement, at least so said delegation leaders Commissioners Will Johnson of Saba and Roy Hooker of St. Eustatius on Monday. The Commissioners and their delegations were busy preparing on Monday night, having received the draft final document.
The mini-summit starts today at 2:00pm. The talks take place at “City Palace The Spanish Court (“Stadspaleis ’t Spaanse Hof”). The programme, prepared by the host, the Dutch Government, starts this morning with a visit to the Second Chamber of Parliament, followed by a visit to Peace Palace and Avila Church, a church mainly serving the Antillean community in The Hague.
Talks continue Wednesday morning. The “festive signing” of the agreement is slated for 2:00pm Wednesday. The Dutch Government is doing its best to keep its guests happy: musical entertainment is arranged both at the dinner on Tuesday evening and at the signing ceremony on Wednesday.
Johnson explained that the islands had received a five-page document, a final draft that already had been generally discussed during preliminary talks in Bonaire last week Tuesday and Wednesday. The document should serve as the framework for direct ties of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius with the Netherlands, said Hooker.
The document consists of three main components dealing with the different aspects of the direct relations. Component A defines the Constitutional Position and Internal Structure, specifying matters such as citizenship and the right to vote.
Component B deals with the actual giving content to the new, direct relations. It contains chapters such as the division of tasks, financial and economic affairs, justice and police, social services level, and regional relations and cooperation.
Component C specifies the agreements regarding the transition process and period.
Johnson said the idea was for the islands to do as much for themselves as possible and only to have the Netherlands guarantee tasks and responsibilities that are too complicated or too big. He said it was a “pretty good document” to work with.
He said there were “a lot of responsibilities” in it for the islands and that it was not just a matter of telling the Netherlands, “Here you are, take care of us.” He said issues “very high” on the agenda were good governance, finances, security, police and justice.
Hooker said there were still some points that needed clarification from the side of the smaller islands. He indicated that there might be some final adjustments to the document.
Both Hooker and Johnson were optimistic about today’s talks. “We are very positive and hopeful that we can sign on October 11,” said Hooker.
“I feel pretty positive. Some things we still have to discuss. I think we can reach an agreement,” said Johnson.
Delegations of Saba and St. Eustatius consisting of respectively three and five members travelled to the Netherlands over the weekend. The Dutch Government is paying for three members per delegation, as well as for Antillean Minister of Home and Constitutional Affairs Roland Duncan, who is there as an observer together with State Secretary Hubert Martis.
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