Curaçao forms new
Island Government
WILLEMSTAD--The political parties FOL, MAN, NPA and independent Island Council members Frensel Marchena and Cesar Prince have reached an agreement on forming a new Island Government in Curaçao. Signing of the Government accord “Ban Sembra pa Rekohé Kosecha” (lets sow so we can harvest) is scheduled to take place today, Thursday, at 8:30am.
The formation period took three weeks and encountered major problems during the last few days. All the parties were very positive last weekend about forming the new Government, but on Monday the negotiations hit a snag when FOL tabled three new demands.
The party wanted the refinery in one of its portfolios, the position of Acting Lt. Governor and the right to appoint a coordinator for all FOL commissioners. Parties agreed to the appointment of a coordinator, but NPA leader Nelson Pierre rejected the proposal to take the refinery out of his portfolio of Government-owned companies and give it to FOL.
Also, MAN refused to give up the position of Acting Lt. Governor, which the party had acquired since forming the former Government with PAR, NPA, PNP and Independent Island Council member Rignald Lak. In addition, MAN wanted to have one of the three commissioners who were not Island Council members.
The Curaçao Executive Council consists of seven commissioners, of whom a maximum of three are allowed to function without being members of the Island Council.
However, FOL wouldn’t agree to MAN retaining the Acting Lt. Governor position and a commissioner who was not a member of the Island Council. This deadlock lasted for almost two days and the formation of a new Government was in danger of failing.
Yesterday, however, parties agreed that FOL would get all three commissioners who would not be members of the Island Council and that the position of acting Lt. Governor would remain with MAN. FOL also can appoint its coordinator for the commissioners, while the refinery stays in the portfolio of Government-owned companies.
The new Government will have a majority of 12 seats in the 21-seat Island Council. FOL has seven seats, MAN has two, NPA has one and the combination Frensel Marchena/Cesar Prince has two.
The coalition can only count on 11 members being present in the Island Council, because FOL leader Anthony Godett is serving a 10-month jail sentence for forgery and money laundering.
MAN retained the Public Works portfolio occupied by Commissioner Charles Cooper. Nelson Pierre of NPA will stay as the Commissioner of Government-owned companies.
Frensel Marchena will become Commissioner of Economic and Labour Affairs for the Frensel Marchena/Cesar Prince combination.
FOL will have to appoint four commissioners for the portfolios of Education, Sports and Culture; Finance and Tourism; General and Constitutional Affairs; and Health Care and Social Affairs.
Names that were mentioned as possible FOL commissioners are former Commissioners Jacintha Constancia, Mayerdith Bouwland and Island Council members Randolph Douglass and Renfred Rojer.
The Island Council will debate today the alleged problems with medical care in Bon Futuro Prison. The intention is to swear in the commissioners during the meeting.
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