A fierce debate has started in Curaçao about the caretaker government signing a Heads of Agreement with Chinese companies on the local Isla refinery and other energy-sector activities (see related stories). MFK leader Gerrit Schotte even announced a motion of no confidence against the already-resigned Ben Whiteman (PS) Cabinet.
A public meeting on the issue has been requested by Members of Parliament (MPs) who will be in the opposition once the incoming MAN/PAR/PNP/PS government takes office. One intriguing aspect is the fact that MAN was not part of the current outgoing coalition, while its three prospective governing partners were.
Moreover, MAN leader and in all likelihood the next Prime Minister Hensley Koeiman after the party’s election win had publicly asked his predecessor Whiteman to refrain from any decision committing the country. It’s therefore not entirely clear what position the MAN fraction will take in Parliament should it come to a vote before the new Council of Ministers is installed.
Similar concern about caretaker governments doing more than attending only to the “day-to-day” running of affairs was expressed in St. Maarten on occasion. It might have again become an issue this time around if the originally planned UP/NA coalition had materialised, particularly regarding the almost-ready-to-go hospital project and its considerable implications.
The NA/US Party/DP government now being formed resembles that of the outgoing “Coalition of Eight” so much that no problems can be expected. Still, there are obviously different interpretations within the Dutch Caribbean on the exact role of caretaker governments and that probably won’t change in the foreseeable future.
