No purpose
UPB leader Ramonsito Booi no doubt has done a lot for Bonaire. He persuaded KLM to make its stops there on flights to South American by investing in the airport and fuel facilities, was active in setting up first Air Exel and then DAE as commercial airlines operating out of Bonaire, and pushed the idea of Bonaire along with St. Eustatius and Saba becoming overseas entities of the Netherlands, the so-called “BES islands.”
The latter was not expected to go without hiccups, because it meant giving up part of the island’s autonomy and especially politicians are not keen on letting authority go. Bonaire has had its problems with the Dutch Government during the negotiations so far and when the island refused to participate in the recent deliberations in Statia with State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld because she did not want to talk about the level of provisions on the islands, Saba and several observers supported that stance.
But with his current threat to pull out of the De Jongh-Elhage Cabinet, Booi is on the wrong track. To begin with, his beef is not with the Central Government, but with Bijleveld, who said she had sent to the Antillean Attorney General the “black book” of opposition organisation Good Governance on alleged wrongdoings by UPB administrators, handed to her during her last visit.
UPB is angry because it considers the allegations false and politically motivated. It also believes something should be done about the foundation’s constant accusations against the UPB Government.
But if the allegations are false, what’s the problem with having the Attorney General look into them? If Booi and the other UPB administrators have nothing to hide, such an investigation would only help clear their names once and for all.
If, on the other hand, there have been certain irregularities, the persons involved will at least be given the chance to explain their side of the story and the circumstances involved. At the moment the allegations remain in the air, because they are not being disputed in an effective manner.
If UPB believes the Good Governance Foundation is guilty of libel, slander or tarnishing its leaders’ good names and reputations, the court is where the party should seek justice. Pulling out of the Antillean Cabinet, especially as it will retain a majority without the UPB’s support, is incorrect, serves no purpose and makes no sense.
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