You are hereDutch Politics
Dutch Politics
Dutch PM advised to push ahead with Antillian constitutional change
PHILIPSBURG - The political crisis continues in Holland and the anxitey of the Antillian islands including St. Maarten continues. Gonzalo Cuales in his PJD-2 report on Thursday stated that the president of Parliamanet is insisting that in the first week of March, the Dutch parliament should deal with the legislation and the consensus laws that would make 10.10.10. possible.[More....]
GRASS ROOT SUPPORT FOR SARAH WESCOTT-WILLIAMS'S CALL. 'Time to include outstanding issues in the constitution'.
SMNN - While the expected delay of '10-10-10' may frustrate many, if not most politicians, it certainly does not result in any 'popular uprising'- or 'revolt' withing our community.
We daresay, that there will be not even a 'ripple' of popular-protest against such possible delay
On the contrary, many citizens have uttered a deep sigh of relief at the 'Divine intervention' which completely shows up arrogant statements like 'etched in stone' and 'sealed and delivered...'.
Now, whether the good lady genuinely meant it or not, to us is irrelevant at this point.
While most of the time, we have been critical of the council-lady in the past, based on principles, this time around, we reserve the rights to credit her.
NAAZ Chairman confirms 10-10-10 to be impossible
THE HAGUE--The target date October 10, 2010, to dismantle the Netherlands Antilles and kick off Countries Curaçao and St. Maarten is definitely passé, because the law proposal to amend the Kingdom Charter will not be handled in the Dutch Parliament's Second Chamber at this stage. Second Chamber Permanent Committee for Antillean and Aruban Affairs NAAZ Chairman Willibrord van Beek concluded that 10-10-10 was unattainable after consulting members of the different parties in his committee. "Forget 10-10-10. More feasible would be 11-11-11," he said on Tuesday.[More....]
With the fall of the Dutch gov't: Curacao opposition parties not moved by appeals to form front
WILLEMSTAD/GREAT BAY - Opposition parties in Curacao are not moved by recent pleas of Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, for all the parties to form a united front to send a clear message to Holland that the constitutional deadline of 10/10/10 should not be affected by the fall of the Dutch Government. De-Jongh-Elhage, who was speaking as leader of the PAR party recently, called for all political parties in Curacao to champion on behalf of the island and the rest of the Netherlands Antilles that 10/10/10 be a fixed date for constitutional change, regardless of the political developments in Holland.[More....]
Sarah: 10-10-10 in danger not quest for country status
PHILIPSBURG--October 10 as the date for St. Maarten to become a country within the Dutch Kingdom and not the quest for country status is in danger with the fall of the fourth Balkenende cabinet on Saturday, opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said Sunday. The Dutch cabinet crisis "spells trouble for the constitutional process. While all indications of the last couple of weeks pointed in the direction of a cabinet crisis in the Netherlands, it is rather unfortunate that this happens now," the island councilwoman said in a press release.[More....]
Sarah says National Alliance not ready for country status
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The National Alliance (NA) has constantly said that St. Maarten is not ready for country status, but it is NA that is not ready, opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams said in a press release Monday.
NA Parliamentarian George Pantophlet stated recently that St. Maarten was not ready because it needed more help to build up its infrastructure and manpower, while Finance Commissioner Xavier Blackman said in his Thursday press conference that the NA-led Executive Council continued to point out that the Island Territory was not ready to assume all the tasks associated with country status.
The fall of the 4th Balkenende cabinet spells trouble for the constitutional process
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Leader of the Democratic Party Council woman Sarah Wescot-Williams believes that there will be consequences for the constitutional process as a result of the fall of the Dutch Government over the weekend.
In a press release on Sunday the (DP) leader stated that the time has come to close ranks in order to achieve the desired constitutional results.
With the collapse of the Dutch gov't: Antilles not worried about stall of constitutional process
GREAT BAY/WILLEMSTAD - The fall of the Dutch Government may not affect the constitutional process of the Netherlands Antilles. That is the view of the Netherlands Antilles in reaction to the collapse of the Dutch Government over the weekend. Prime Minister of the Netherlands Antilles, Emily de Jongh-Elhage believes that the ongoing developments should not affect the constitutional process as this is not a new task of any Dutch government that is in place.[More....]
DP writes Richards about CFT letter
PHILIPSBURG--Opposition Democratic Party (DP) wrote to Island Council Chairman Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards Monday, querying why a December 16, 2009 letter from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT with comments on the 2010 draft budget had not been forwarded immediately to the members of the Island Council. Richards received the letter in December in his capacity as Chairman of the Executive Council, and he also received a copy as Chairman of the Island Council. DP Island Council members only became aware of the letter when it was sent to them last week by the Executive Council as part of the package of answers to questions they had posed in November and December 2009.
CFT cites shortage of information in budget
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT informed Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards in December 2009 that the budget for 2010, as submitted by the Executive Council, lacked vital information and was unclear in certain instances.
Therefore, CFT could not render a positive advice on the budget and gave the Executive Council until January 14 to rectify or clarify a number of issues it identified.
The letter to the Lt. Governor dated December 16, 2009, urged the Executive Council to provide the essential information that would allow CFT to determine if the budget was realistic and feasible.
