Governor Richards & Governors hold discussions with state secretary, members of Dutch parliament
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Governors representing the island territories of St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius and Bonaire, presently in Holland, have met with the Dutch secretary of state for kingdom relations, Ank Bijleveld and several members of the Dutch second chamber of parliament. During the discussions, views were exchanged on a number of current issues.
On Thursday, the group was able to meet with Bijleveld and parliamentarians John Leerdam (PvdA), Johan Remkes (VVD) and Bas Jan van Bochove (CDA), for separate meetings.
The discussions centered around the pending constitutional status of Saba and St. Eustatius as well as St. Maarten becoming a country within the kingdom of the Netherlands.
With regards to the latter, the Dutch government is primarily interested in the following points of concern:
1. Implementation of recommendations made in the â??WODCâ?? report and the report â??Now or Neverâ??
2. Good Governance
3. Corporate Governance
4. Justice
5. Financial Supervision
6. Lack of governmental mechanisms and potential of the governmental apparatus for the carrying out of tasks.
7. Safety and security
8. The well-being of the citizen, whereby the citizen is central; investing in and empowering of the citizen; paying more attention to social issues, such as housing, education, culture and sports; placing emphasis on social formation.
9. The uncertainties surrounding funds destined for the above.
10. Information aimed at the citizen, regarding the constitutional changes.
St. Maartenâ??s governor Franklyn Richards has urged that the allocated funds of the plan safety Netherlands Antilles, destined to upgrade law and order, go to a governmental entity such as the Executive Council of the office of the governor of the island territory, instead of the Netherlands Antilles Minister of Justice.
As Local Chief of Police, the governor of the island territory, is at present, more closely related to the local police force. Notwithstanding he lacks any jurisdiction over the budget, from which funds are to be used for the now irreversible process of improving the police force.