MAHO--Discrimination between Dutch students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom and Dutch students from the Netherlands was amongst several issues discussed when Members of Parliament (MPs) from Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and the Netherlands met for the first day of the Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultations IPKO on Tuesday.
While Dutch students from the Netherlands can use their study financing to study anywhere, students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom can study only in the Netherlands.
The Caribbean islands had requested that the Dutch Government look into the possibility of offering study financing for students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom to also pursue studies in the region.
St. Maarten Parliament Chairperson Sarah Wescot-Williams said the Dutch Government had indicated that this “was not possible.” However, the Caribbean part of the Kingdom sees this as discriminatory.
When the issue was raised during the IPKO meeting on Tuesday, Dutch MPs present maintained that the response from the Dutch Government on the matter had been clear. However, Wescot-Williams said, “There is a difference of opinion on this. We have not finalised the talks and we have not taken the answer from the Dutch Minister as the last answer.”
She said there were benefits to students from the Caribbean part of the Kingdom studying “closer to home.” Other forms of discrimination also were discussed.
Also tabled were the challenges being faced by the various countries when it comes to the youth.
MPs discussed some of the results of the health conference held in Aruba last year where protocols were signed by the four Governments to work in the area of health. The discussion included the plans for new hospital facilities in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
“Aruba is building a hospital and Curaçao is in that process as well. St. Maarten hasn’t yet started it, but it is generally known that St. Maarten would have to have a new expanded hospital. With the protocol signed, it is important to see if there can be benefits for economies of scale, also in health. What would be more feasible is to have specialities in St. Maarten that can also serve other islands,” Wescot-Williams said.
The issue of energy and alternative energy also was broached. The four countries gave synopses of what they were doing in terms of alternative energy. Wescot-Williams said alternative energy sources were part of St. Maarten’s energy policy. Curaçao also has an energy policy and Aruba is compiling its policy.
The Dutch delegation raised concerns about medical evacuation between St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius, in particular the length of time patients have to wait for an ambulance to transport them to the hospital once they arrive in St. Maarten.
Wescot-Williams said this was not the first time she had heard such complaints. When she heard them in the past, the issue was explained and some of the points raised had been dispelled. When the issue was raised again on Tuesday, Wescot-Williams said she had indicated that a clear written statement on this issue would be sought from Princess Juliana International Airport SXM.
The Dutch delegation also raised concerns on the frequency of flights to Saba and MPs were advised to seek clarity from their Windward Islands Airways Winair board members, as Winair provides these flights and the airline is partly owned by the Dutch Government.
“The crux of the matter is that these flights are costly and Winair, as a company, will not entertain flights and lose money on the flights. Saba and Statia might like to fly as often as possible, but there is a cost. Can this be subsidised by the Dutch Government? I don’t know,” Wescot-Williams said.
She summed up the talks on the first day of the IPKO as being “very good.” She said, “Practically all the members of all the delegations were able to give their input and at times some heated arguments took place, but they were conducive to all persons bringing forward their points.”
At the end of the meeting a proposal on the dispute regulation was shared amongst the delegation members in preparation for talks on this issue today.
