Cross border movement with the French side is one of the agenda points for today’s Island Council meeting in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall set to begin at 3:00pm.
The movement of people across the open border that has existed since 1648 as part of the Treaty of Concordia has been the subject to much debate in recent years. The French side, the westernmost part of France and a part of the European Union, has been coming under intense pressure to tighten border controls.
The Island Council will examine how the border issues will be dealt with when St. Maarten achieves the status of country in the Dutch Kingdom tentatively set for early 2010.
In broader constitutional focus, the path to acquiring country status will be dealt with, as well as plans to tackle education, health care and poverty reduction issues. Concerns about proper law enforcement and plans for the future status are also on the agenda.
Only nine of the 11 members are expected at today’s meeting. Commissioner Roy Marlin is in the Netherlands attending a tourism trade show and National Alliance Island Councilman Frans Richardson is in Curaçao serving in his role as Parliamentarian. This will be newly-sworn-in National Alliance Island Councilman Patrick Illidge’s first working meeting. "