The elections for the new government in The Hague are scheduled for September 12. Various political parties are clarifying their position with respect to the many issues that play. Of course , for Saba, their attitude towards the BES islands is important. The article below is translated from Caribiana. It covers the objectives of the Socialist Party, SP, as expressed in their concept programme for the elections.
The SP is of the opinion that a new statute for the Kingdom is required. That is an important element in their concept programme for the upcoming elections that the party presented last Tuesday. The Netherlands should no longer take the responsibility for good governance in Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten. For the BES islands a custom made approach is required.
Ronald van Raak, spokesman for Kingdom Relations of the SP, has had enough. “On 10-10-10, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have become countries within the Kingdom. At that time we have paid 1,500 million euros for debt restructuring and, at the same time, made firm commitments were made. And it’s turned out into a mess.” The islands will have to be self supporting”, says Van Raak.
Ronald van Raak, SP
Equality
The SP remains willing to help the islands, but on the basis of equality. “The path we have followed so far has in fact, promoted poor governance. They assumed that Holland would keep sending more people and that the flow of funds would not stop.” Van Raak called the Bon Futuro prison on Curaçao as an example: “We have sent many people and lots of money. This money has largely gone elsewhere and all help is put on the sidelines.” It appears that efficient support is thus impossible.
This approach needs to come to an end. He believes that the islands should be treated similarly as other countries: “More a kind of commonwealth construction. An idea where the VVD has previously suggested and the SP believes that this is is a good idea.”
Everything went wrong
For Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, the SP wants that the Netherlands delivers a customized approach, “Almost everything we’ve done was wrong. We have done very much on the islands, but from a Dutch perspective .” In the future, the small scale and the practical problems should be taken into account in a better way. “We must not think in terms of rules and structures and not approach these with a civil servant attitude.”
According to Van Raak, currently, the BES islands are governed from the ministries in The Hague. What is required, is people that understand the islands. “I have already suggested earlier that the islands should closer cooperate with municipalities in the Netherlands.”
Minister of Kingdom Relations
The SP is doing well in the polls towards the elections of 12 September. Asked whether he was aiming for the position of Minister of Kingdom Relations Van Raak reacted not negatively: “However, first the voters will speak and then the party. That’s still a long way. But I must honestly say that I carry the Caribbean, the islands and in particular the people very dear to my heart. ”
Source Caribiana, June 6, 2012 (11)
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