Minister Ter Horst (Interior Relations) and State Secretary Bijleveld will pay a working visit to the Netherlands Antilles next week.
The visit of State Secretary Bijleveld concentrates on the progress of the political reforms in the Kingdom. On Wednesday, December 9 the State Secretary will have political consultations on this subject in St. Maarten with the country of the Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao and St. Maarten. The agenda features, among other things, the reinforcement and upgrading of the police forces of the new countries and the force for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES). Other topics that will also be discussed are the common provision for the combating of organized and cross-border crime. Also minister Ter Horst will participate in the political consultations.
Additionally, the theme of the minister’s journey consists in the preparations of the ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and the future responsibility of the minister with regard to the BES security organization. In the future public bodies the minister will have herself informed about the improvements of the BES police force, the fire department and the set-up of the Regional Service Centres. In Saba an agreement will be signed with regard to the renovation of the power supply facility for the transmission tower on Mount Scenery. The transmission tower has been out of use for some years past. Taking it into use again will be the first step for the realization of the planned opening of the common control room of the BES police and firefighting force.
The work visit of the ministers will start on Monday, December 7 and will end on Thursday, December 10.