I believe in and fully support all efforts leading up to the dismantling of the Netherland Antilles. My faction will continue to support the Island Territory in attaining its new status at a realistic pace in order for our people to finally receive fair and equal treatment and an improved way of life.
I was therefore very surprised to read in the newspaper about Commissioner Chris Johnson’s announcement that Saba had decided to secede from the Netherlands Antilles, which was done without consulting with or informing all members of the Island Council of Saba, or, even, as it appears from newspaper reports, without consulting with Saba’s representatives in Parliament. To add to the confusion, the Governments advisor on constitutional affairs Mr. Will Johnson has announced that he will probably be contesting the Parliamentary Elections in January on the WIPM slate. Saba will be starting a process of immediate withdrawal from the Netherland Antilles, while there has been no mention of representative’s withdrawing from Parliament and while the same WIPM government party is busy preparing a list for the upcoming elections? All of this is more confusing than it is sensible.
Making such a move only for the sake of worldwide recognition, and putting up a smoke screen while not being able to follow through or not being able to see it through to a positive end result only proves the WIPM faction has lost control of the constitutional process.
In the 2004 referendum the WIPM faction fought for option A, which was free association, and the island ended up with quite a different scenario, being integration into Holland. Since the current Commissioners took office, the Executive Council of Saba has sat by looking on without a clear vision. Even members of the Dutch Parliament have now stated that the Dutch Government is patronizing the BES islands too much and questioning why everything should be arranged and decided in The Hague.
So I presume the WIPM faction had to make a drastic move with midterm elections approaching fast in order to convince the community of Saba to swallow what is being served up since they are not able to get what they promised. I do not understand why a large majority of the Saban community still accepts this behavior since it is commonly known that "a promise is a comfort to a fool".
Over the past few months the WIPM faction has been attending various meeting in Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Barbados, Nevis etc. Not one of these delegations consisted of an opposition member as has been the case on Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten.
I now strongly believe that the opposition has been left out for obvious reasons and is only invited when convenient. I am not interested in becoming a flying Dutchwoman but if duty calls I am available and should at least be informed of any discussions that concerns the dismantling process, all of which ultimately reaches the floor of the Island Council for approval and/or disapproval.
I think my faction has been fully supportive of the Executive Council and opted for a more subtle approach over the past two years where it could have been more agressive. This strategy has proven successful in some ways but in this case needs to be reevaluated. I would like to state that my faction is looking forward to the discussion on this issue on the floor of the Island Council. The request of the Executive Council for Saba’s secession from the Antilles has received a lot of attention and like any other hot news story it came and has gone. Will this move serve the purpose I am presuming the Executive Council has set to accomplish? That is still left to be seen.
Removing the Antillean Flag, for example, is an issue that has to be executed by protocol and by following the laws of the land. I would like to remind the community of Saba that removing the Antillean Flag does not magically remove us from the Antilles any quicker. And the manner in which it was executed may just have simply burnt yet another bridge that would have helped us with the real task at hand that should be effectively working towards the dismantling of the Antilles of which we are still apart of. The Antillean Flag will be removed whether it is by seceding or attaining our new status. So that is something we can all get used to. After much consideration about the Executive Council’s secession request my faction has taken a stance on the secession and I believe that this type of hot headed behavior will not aid Saba when it comes to negotiations with the Central Government or assist us with what we the politicians should be focusing on, such as mending relationships and reviewing our approach when it comes to dealing with Curaçao in particular.
My colleagues might argue that all has been done by the WIPM faction to this affect with no positive results. This argument only proves that electing new blood to Parliament is essential. I have had the opportunity to be acquainted with some members of Parliament. And I strongly believe that our past elected representatives to Parliament have burnt the bridges they needed to cross and continue to do so. In closing I am pleased to announce that because of an overwhelming number of requests received from the Saban electorate, the Saba Labour Party (SLP) will be contesting the upcoming Parliamentary Elections with a full list of capable experienced candidates, with one common goal to work for the people of this island and not for political fame. Pleasing politicians and easing the burden of Government, while the community who elected you pays the price is not is what Governments are elected to do!
Leader of opposition
Akilah M. Levenstone
SLP