Dear All,
I would first like to thank all those in the media for the great coverage. It was an honor to give the press something new on international press day. One Dutch news article stated that anyone who did not know of Saba before yesterday definitely had a drastic change.
Firstly, I was very glad to see the wide spread response to the actions taken by Saba. I think that we are accepting too many issues at face value. The smaller islands are being told what to do and are always expected to follow without any resistance or opinion.
With regards to the reaction from the Netherlands: I was dismayed to hear so many quickly saying that our intended path is not possible or legal. To those of that opinion, I would like to ask "How was it possible for Aruba to leave the Netherlands Antilles without a complete dismantling of the Country?" The issue of Aruba not only shows that this is possible and has already happened in the Netherlands Antilles just over twenty years ago.
Furthermore, it is also a common stance of the Dutch Government that if we want independence, we can have it by tomorrow. If this is the case – Is this not a form of leaving the country?
The United Nations, of which the Netherlands is a staunch supporter, has declared that there is a right to self determination. What happens to the right of self determination in the case where Saba needs the approval of parliament and the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles, before it can change its status? If this is the case it then means that the parliament of the Netherlands Antilles has more authority than the United Nations and stands above International law.
Saba’s Government is not opposed to the elections, it is opposed to what these elections represent. They represent a lack of commitment on behalf of the Central Government of the Netherlands Antilles to ever bring about real change in this country. We on Saba enjoy a good election as much as any. However, if our attempt to leave the country of the Netherlands Antilles is not accomplished then we will contest the central elections in full force. We will do this to safeguard the position of the Island and not allow others to take advantage of our parliamentary seat.
During the Round Table Conference of December 15th, 2008 a member of the press asked Prime Minister Balkenende if the referendum outcome on Curacao would have any effect on the trajectory of the BES islands. He stated twice, very clearly, that the results of the referendum on Curacao would have no effect on the BES islands. One of the reasons given by Prime Minister De Jongh-El Hage for the upcoming central elections was because of the close results of the referendum the island would be unstable if elections were not called. This means that indirectly we on Saba are still subjected to the results of the referendum on Curacao. This result in turn will have an effect on the time-frame of the BES islands.
I would like to end by asking – "What is to happen to all the Islands if we have a new Central Government in January which comes in with a statement as part of their Governing accord saying that it is not in agreement with dismantling and they intend on keeping the Netherlands Antilles together as a Country for their Governing period? What happens to our rights of self determination then?
Best Regards from the highest point in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Sincerely,
Chris Johnson
Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs
Island Government of Saba