WILLEMSTAD — The alderman from Amsterdam, Freek Ossel (Labor and Income, Diversity, Large Municipal Policy, Harbor, and Airport) is currently on the island for a working visit in connection with the cooperation between Curaçao and Amsterdam, which was concluded two years ago.
He hopes that when the cooperation terminates in two years (August 30th, 2011) ‘all fifteen points of the agreement have been completed and accomplished’ including a plan of approach for those points that have been added afterwards, such as vulnerable youngsters between the ages four and sixteen’.
Ossel held 25 conversations during his 3-day working visit on Curaçao, together with his delegation consisting of Maria Cuartas, Head of cabinet Mayor of Amsterdam; Jan Brandenbarg, program manager Caribbean ‘Amsterdammers’, and Gerard Pieters, Director International Affairs. They granted the local press a number of interviews on the last day of their working visit.
Discussions were held on community approach as well as the Academy Hotel. It will be reviewed whether more steps could be taken to increase employment in cooperation with the ROC Amsterdam. Cooperation is also possible with regard to the harbor, which is comparable to that of Amsterdam. Regarding cooperation, I am not thinking along the lines of investing, but rather people." Ossel observed that the youth welfare ‘requires a more urgent consideration on an approach’.
An evaluation report was presented to Lieutenant Governor Lisa Dindial on Monday. The alderman is very positive about the cooperation and cites examples of achieved points, such as a new measuring system for the Isla and an archeological value chart. "Very positive, certainly if one considers that Curaçao is in the middle of a process of governmental change". However, not everything was accomplished. "Additional steps should be taken regarding the compulsory education law and certain projects in the health care sector."
The main purpose of the cooperation is to help Curaçao strengthen the government and offering expertise. In addition, Amsterdam could also make use of Curaçao’s experiences ‘as a large majority of the Amsterdam residents are of Caribbean origin’. The policy in Amsterdam could be further accentuated with the experiences from the youth welfare, according to the alderman. Ossel stated that the chosen approach of governmental integrity was ‘innovative on a number of points’.
What struck alderman Ossel the most, is ‘the open and enthusiastic manner of communication with each other – also on issues that have not been arranged well yet – and also the priority given to the cooperation by the Board of Governors’.
"A sphere of confidence amongst one another and the will to strengthen each other", struck Maria Cuartas, Head of cabinet Mayor Amsterdam, as the most obvious during the visit. "We may not always have the expertise but we are honest about that. We hope to contribute to professionalizing the system".
During the delegation’s visit on Sunday, Gerard Pieters (International Affairs) said the Ruta Tula was ‘impressive. It is good to notice the appreciation for the susceptibilities of the relationship between Amsterdam and Curaçao with regard to the slavery past." A possible cooperation between organizations and museums in Amsterdam, such as the ‘Tropics’ museum, was also agreed upon.