The current workweek – cut short by Monday’s public holiday – promises to be a crucial one in the continued recovery from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Today’s opening of Princess Juliana International Airport SXM to commercial flights marks a new beginning for the island’s tourism economy, although it will take quite some time before visitor numbers are even close to what they were before.
Equally or perhaps more important is a pending decision on financial support from the Netherlands that is to be taken by the Kingdom Council of Ministers this Friday. The Hague has set as conditions (see related story) finalising the Integrity Chamber and having the Royal Military Police handle border control.
The Government of St. Maarten does not agree and Prime Minister William Marlin has reportedly stated such in no uncertain terms. His Constitution Day speech acknowledged that the island can’t do it alone and help is badly needed, but said the people’s tragedy cannot be exploited to bring in Trojan horses.
The Dutch intend to impose their will making use of Article 51 of the Kingdom Charter allowing them to take over tasks not adequately performed by entities of the individual countries Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten. This probably will require an advice by the Council of State, which could take months.
The concern is that -regardless of the end result- the aid flow would be greatly reduced or possibly stop during that time, with all possible consequences for the local community urgently requiring assistance for which there simply aren’t enough local resources readily available. One could argue that one issue has nothing to do with the other, but ultimately the question becomes what weighs heavier at this particular point in time.
It should be considered as well that any Integrity Chamber which is implemented will have to take into account objections of the Constitutional Court in its review at the request of the Ombudsman. In that sense the rights infringed on in the original law must be respected.
As far as immigration is concerned, there is currently a clear lack of capacity and the involvement of Dutch law enforcement officials ought to be welcomed in principle, provided they stick to the country’s rules and regulations. Local authorities should obviously remain in charge at least formally, but doing it together under the current circumstances does appear to be the most practical way to go.
The bottom line is both governments needing to realise that what matters most is the wellbeing of the population who, after all they have gone through, ill-deserve to become victims of political squabbling. Their best interest is paramount.
