Bijleveld-Schouten comments
on corruption in St. Maarten
PHILIPSBURG--The impression created about corruption on St. Maarten is worrisome. “I consider especially the structure (or the lack of structure) which possibly makes corruption problematic,” State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten stated in answers she gave to the Dutch Second Chamber.
The Second Chamber in its meeting of March 11 requested a letter from the State Secretary on the matter of corruption in the Netherlands Antilles based on reports of Dutch television programme Nova during which several doubtful matters were brought forward.
Bijleveld-Schouten has sent the letter, also on behalf of Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin, on the matter.
“The impression created from the television reports corresponds with the recently published WODC report about St. Maarten and the Black Book about Bonaire, which I handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office,” Bijleveld-Schouten stated.
She stressed that good governance on the islands was primarily a responsibility of the Central Government and the Island Territories. “The Netherlands Antilles has shown that it takes this responsibility seriously.”
She said the Netherlands offered support focused on strengthening of government in the Netherlands Antilles and thereby limiting the possibilities for corruption. The Netherlands, she also explained, finances the cooperation programme “Institutional Strengthening and Management Power.”
These programmes make it possible for the Island Territories to consolidate their checks and balances, execute their integrity programmes and reinforce their financial management and financial control.
