Judging from reports in the last few days it would appear St. Eustatius and the Dutch Government are once again headed for a collision over the island’s constitutional status and governance in general. A delegation is now in The Hague to start a dialogue regarding the association with the Netherlands as public entity.
They are said to have appointments with several Members of Parliament and a number of Ministries, but “hoped” to meet with the all-important Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations. Whether the latter’s Minister Ronald Plasterk will also receive them was unclear.
The majority in Statia’s Island Council wants the earlier agreed-on installation of a “Committee of Wise Men” by May 15 to prepare a roundtable meeting regarding a future of self-government for the Caribbean territory based on the coalition’s “White Paper.” However, according to Plasterk that document won’t be recognised unless adopted unanimously.
The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber discussed a request by the Executive Council to spend just over US $1 million in unused special-purpose grants from 2016 to cover urgent expenditures, including several salary payments, but also the current mission and the decision-making conference to which it is supposed to lead. That petition was already denied at the end of April because it involved regular operational cost that should be budgeted, while the funds in question were to be used for the Plan of Approach to strengthen the financial management.
All this just shows how far apart – and not just geographically – the two sides still are, so expecting any type of breakthrough might be a bit optimistic. Trying to force the issue doesn’t seem advisable either, especially with a caretaker Dutch Government in office.
Moreover, Plasterk’s own PvdA is not part of the ongoing formation talks in The Hague. Any serious negotiations are therefore in any case not likely to begin until that process has been completed and a new cabinet installed.
