(AUDIO AVAILABLE)The Sonesta Maho Beach Hotel and Casino is the venue for a 5-day conference, concerning the European Union (EU) and Netherlands/Antilles (NEA) development – cooperation relations entitled "Building capacity for coordinating and managing EC-development cooperation in Curacao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St.Eustatius and Saba."
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On behalf of the Territorial Authorizing Officer (TAO) of the Netherlands Antilles and the European Commission (EC), the Department for Development Cooperation (DEVCO) has invited several departments of the Island Government to participate in the workshop.
This conference is a joint initiative by the TAO of the Netherlands Antilles and the EC, in cooperation with the EU focal point "Programma en Projectenbureau" of St.Maarten. This five day- workshop is funded through the resources of the European Commission.
Commissioner of Finance, Personnel, and Information & Technology Xavier Blackman was present to give a welcome on behalf of the Executive Council of St. Maarten.
"I am pleased to be here. In regards to the constitutional changes we are heading to by 10-10-10, there will be major changes not only on paper, but in the mind-set as well in regards to our partners. We have looked at ways and means of how partners fund our islands in the N.A., and I find that direct budgetary support is the best way to go; so instead of dividing up and providing sporadic funding for projects, the money simply goes on the budget and used accordingly. Using this method, there is no red tape, the monies are stipulated, the reporting and control mechanism is present, and it fits within the structure."
In the end, Blackman urged the participants to take advantage of the opportunities before us and I wish you a successful workshop session. Let’s all work together.
Ralph James, Director of European Development Cooperation, shared some remarks with the audience. "It is a privilege for my department to be here. With the current constitutional changes, there needs to be a smooth and efficient transfer of tasks, responsibilities, and know-how regarding the European Union to each individual island.
James said that the process has began of transferring the process of responsibility to individual islands, and when the process is complete each island will have its own knowledge and skill set regarding the application of funding for select activities.
In addition, DEVCO has over the years developed a network; this should be taken advantage of, James said. So all in all, we are in the process of transferring, and when the time reaches, there will be the transfer to total knowledge; in addition, there will be assistance.
The main objectives of the workshop are:
§ To build island level awareness and knowledge on issues related to EC-OCT cooperation, including challenges and opportunities for the new upcoming entities
§ Build commitment and cooperation of the governmental and non governmental actors to ensure participation of the relevant authorities in the further formulation and implementation of the 10th European Development Funds
§ Identify good practices, processes and mechanisms to strengthen the program management capacities of the newly-designated EC Focal Points and other island authorities in St Maarten, Curaçao, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba
Present at the meeting were: the Department of Finance, New Works, Public Works, Chamber of Commerce, Development Bank, Sector Economy and Tourism, among others.