Dutch commit to education,
care, safety on BES islands
THE HAGUE--The Dutch Government and the BES islands Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius during a political consultation in The Hague on Thursday came to a number of concrete decisions in the area of public health, safety, education and youth affairs in preparation of the islands’ new status as “public entity” of the Netherlands in 2010 or 2011.
An action plan will be executed in 2009 and 2010 to improve the quality in education on the three islands. This includes school books and other educational material, but also facilities such as school buses and tackling of urgent problems with schools like asbestos and termites. A plan will be drawn up no later than January 1, 2009, regarding study financing for students of the islands.
Furthermore, people on the BES islands will soon be able to count on 24 hours, 7 days availability of emergency transport for the sick. Also, a care facility will be established in 2009 to finance the implementation of a health care insurance which will be taken over gradually from the current health care providers such as the Social Insurance Bank SVB.
A centre for youth and family will be established on the three islands to facilitate the implementation of the policy in this area. Dutch Minister of Youth and Family Affairs André Rouvoet announced on Thursday that he is making 6 million euros available for this purpose.
Point of departure will be that the youngsters remain on their islands. A new home for (displaced) youngsters will be built in Bonaire to replace the current one. No foster homes are planned for Saba and St. Eustatius. “We will see if this is necessary. Possibly foster homes will suffice,” said State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten at a press conference following Thursday’s political consultation. A team of social workers will be formed in 2009/2010 to assist youngsters on the three islands.
The Netherlands will continue to deploy Royal Dutch Marechaussee on the BES islands in 2009 and 2010 to assist the local police forces. Priority will be given to establishing a joint call centre for emergency services in 2009. Priority will also be given to improve the police cells and to develop and train police. The Dutch Government is making available an additional one million euros for police on the islands, specifically for better equipment and vehicles.
Bijleveld-Schouten said she was satisfied with the outcome of Thursday’s political consultation, despite the sometimes intense discussions. She said the concrete improvements were important for the people on the islands. The issue of social affairs and income needed further working out.
Saba’s Commissioner Chris Johnson said his delegation was “very grateful” for the Dutch commitments. “The Netherlands has been very forthcoming and they have shown that they are willing to assist us in any way,” he said. He said that with the assistance of the Dutch, Saba would be able to develop the island, improve facilities and get Saba out of isolation.
Statia’s Commissioner Julian Woodley also lauded the Dutch Government, specifically Bijleveld-Schouten and BES Commissioner for the Netherlands Henk Kamp, for their input. He said Kamp had shown that he truly wanted to assist. Of Bijleveld-Schouten he said that she had demonstrated she was politically mature. “The Netherlands wants to do everything to help us progress,” said Woodley.
Woodley said he wasn’t bothered by what some people on St. Maarten were saying, that the BES islands were giving up their authority and that they were going back into the system of colonialism. “They say it’s a shame. But we don’t care. A good politician makes sure his people can progress,” he said. On another note, Woodley said he was elated that the Dutch environmental inspection Rijnmond was resuming inspections at NuStar/Statia Terminals.
Thursday’s political meeting didn’t run entirely smoothly. A few members of Bonaire’s seven-person delegation had some issues with among others the BES islands position in the Kingdom Charter (see related story). Bonaire’s Commissioner Anthony Nicolaas explained that the delegation had to take into account that Bonaire’s Island Council had adopted four motions last Friday regarding the BES islands trajectory.
Nicolaas still managed to display optimism during the press conference. He said the Netherlands had shown that it was open to negotiate and had gained the confidence of the BES islands. He stressed that Bonaire chose to become part of the Netherlands because this would be better for the people.
The so-called BES week, a week of presentations and meetings in The Hague, ends today, Friday. The delegations in the course of the week visited the different Dutch ministries where they received updates on the efforts of these ministries to integrate the BES islands.
