St. Maarten has opportunity
to put things properly in place
~ Marlin cautions against further extension ~
PHILIPSBURG--The constitutional change process should not be extended any further; otherwise, it will become “a joke,” says National Alliance leader and Island Council Member William Marlin.
He also said the new situation of an extended transitional phase gave St. Maarten the opportunity to put systems for its own social insurance, pension fund, audit chamber and advisory body properly in place.
He made the remarks after last Thursday’s meeting of the Kingdom Political Steering Group in Curaçao.
“Dates and deadlines have been set which have not been met, and again we had to review the December 15 target,” he said.
Marlin noted that this year marked eight years since the people had voted for separate status. “We chose to stay in the Kingdom so we have to negotiate. But we feel that enough political effort is not being made to ensure we get out of it (the Netherlands Antilles) as soon as possible,” he said.
He based his statements on information received that dates of 2012 and 2013 had been mentioned for constitutional change. Even statements of Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage to the effect that “if we want to do it right, we would be looking at 2015” had Marlin concerned.
In the bilateral meeting with State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten, St. Maarten stressed that a new date had to be set.
The current Central Government is the second in succession in office working on the basis of being the last one. “The people will not take politicians seriously anymore if again they go to the people with a new election of Parliament and a new Island Council afterwards,” Marlin said.
He said the St. Maarten delegation did not see the reason the status change should take place long after December 15. St. Maarten agreed to the scenario to evaluate how far the process would be by January 2010. In the meantime, the Council of State will need to come up with proposal to speed up the process.
Marlin said that between the present time and 2010, it must be assured that the Central Government has transferred all tasks and responsibilities for the islands to attain their new statuses.
