Foreign Minister Bert Koenders did not beat around the hush when he told the Second Chamber of Parliament in The Hague that France did not stick to the agreement for a status quo pending negotiations on the exact borders between the Dutch and French sides of the island (see related story). It should be noted that Koenders as Foreign Minister directly represents not just the Netherlands, but the entire Kingdom.
Oyster Pond didn’t fall under the maritime border treaty between the two European countries for their respective Caribbean territories signed only in April. The inlet was instead to be handled as part of a land border agreement.
Apparently talks to reach the latter hadn’t even begun yet, but the Minister now announced they would start as soon as possible. That, rather than who was wrong or right during last month’s regrettable incident at Captain Oliver’s, is the most important thing going forward.
Perhaps it’s actually for the best that this issue came up the way it did. Maintaining a status quo is one thing, but ultimately the longstanding dispute must be resolved once and for all, providing clarity to all parties involved so there is no more room for “difference in interpretation.”
Duly-established and well-indicated borders can never be misunderstood, as they physically divide two specifically defined geographical entities. It’s high time to cut to the chase regarding this matter.
