PHILIPSBURG--The Dutch Government “conveniently deems some St. Maarten issues as internal ones” and others, especially when related to the United People’s (UP) party, as kingdom concerns, said UP deputy leader, Member of Parliament (MP) Franklin Meyers on Tuesday.
Meyers’ reaction comes on the heels of Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk telling the Dutch Parliament on Monday, that the decision to hold elections in St. Maarten in September 2016 is an internal matter and a responsibility of the local government.
Meyers said, “How convenient for Plasterk to say this when they have meddled in issues far more internal to St. Maarten. Didn’t the Dutch push for Theo Heyliger not to become prime minister? Did the Dutch not insist on imposing an integrity chamber on this country come hell or high water? Didn't they make the most comments about so-called vote-buying? What’s the difference now?”
The difference, Meyers said, can only be that the UP is not at the helm of government now. “Whenever the UP is in office everything on St. Maarten is criticized and blocked; simple procedures are bogged down by bureaucratic and procedures. But, let there be a change of government and they no longer pay attention to the country,” he said.
“They continue to show its bias against UP, a bias that is without merit or ground other than under an UP-led government St. Maarten sees progress and does not need to go to the Dutch and ask for assistance,” said the party’s deputy leader.
Meyers said the treatment of St. Maarten as a “step-child” and the UP as “an unacknowledged outside child” needs to come to an end.
“They need to end its colonial grip on St. Maarten and not stand in the way of the country’s progress. The only way to do that is to stop trying to meddle in issues that are truly internal to St. Maarten, and act like a true partner and not someone with a big stick and bias,” Meyers said.
