PHILIPSBURG--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk is to sign the multi-year Development Plan during his visit to St. Eustatius on Monday. He also will be presented with the response to the Evaluation Report on the constitutional status of the islands in the Caribbean Netherlands. Minister Plasterk will be visiting St. Maarten on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Statia, Minister Plasterk will speak with among others Island Governor Gerald Berkel and with Commissioners Reginald Zaandam and Astrid McKenzie-Tatem. There will also be a meeting with the Island Council. The Minister also has a meet-and-greet with social partners and he will visit Hazel Plantation.
During his first visit since January 2015, Minister Plasterk and the Executive Council will be signing the Multi-Year Development Plan for Statia. The Multi-Year Plan will be implemented between 2016 and 2018 and focuses on economic development, poverty reduction and the Rights of the Child. The signing will take place at Gertrude Judson Bicentennial Public Library in the morning.
The signing of the plan was put on hold after Minister Plasterk placed Statia under financial and administrative supervision in June 2015.
Monday afternoon, the Public Entities Bonaire, Statia and Saba will be presenting their responses to the Evaluation Report of the Committee Spies to Minister Plasterk during a meeting at Old Gin House.
On St. Maarten, the Minister will make acquaintance with the Council of Ministers on Tuesday. He will also have a meeting with Chairwoman of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams and with Vice-Chairman George Pantophlet. He will hold separate talks with Prime Minister Marlin and Minister of Justice Edson Kirindongo. A visit to the port at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facility is also planned.
On Wednesday morning, Plasterk will be present at the Governor’s Consultation, a regular meeting of the three Governors of the Dutch Caribbean. St. Maarten is hosting the meeting this time. Plasterk returns to the Netherlands on Wednesday afternoon.
