Coalition, opposition
disagree on autonomy
WILLEMSTAD--The Island Council is firmly divided concerning the trajectory that should lead to autonomy for Curaçao. The parties were once more standing diametrically against each other during Friday’s meeting.
The proposal of the opposition to evaluate the work of Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR) was rejected, as were motions calling for a vote of no-confidence against the Commissioner and one to include the Committee for Constitutional Affairs in the negotiations for a new status for the island.
A motion calling for support for Jesus-Leito, on the other hand, received sufficient support from the coalition parties and was carried.
The Island Council further agreed upon the ratification of the meeting of the Political Steering Group Constitutional Change Netherlands Antilles, held in St. Maarten on January 22. During that meeting, agreements were made concerning finance, debt relief and maintenance of law.
The opposition is of the opinion that the Commissioner is acting irresponsibly. They are pointing at warnings issued by former President of the Joint Court of the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Luis de Lannoy not to make any decisions which would position the island in a point of no return. This is exactly what is happening now, the opposition is contending.
“The Executive Council expects us to buy a car without having actually seen it,” said Helmin Wiels (PS), calling the Commissioner the “salesgirl” of the island territory.
Nelson Pierre (NPA) and Wiels warned the Executive Council that during this “re-colonisation trajectory” it would one day be confronted with a population that would not take it any longer and would take to the streets in a massive protest.
