THE HAGUE--The Dutch Government does not consider it “opportune” to talk with the Government of St. Eustatius in other policy areas while the public entity is under higher supervision to improve its finances and public administration.
Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this on Thursday in response to written questions submitted by Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Wassila Hachchi of the democratic D66 party on August 31. Hachchi had sought clarity following media reports that the Dutch Government was boycotting St. Eustatius on working visits.
“Given the priority that the Netherlands gives to the policy area of government finances and the public administration, the government doesn’t consider it opportune to have talks on the level of members of the Dutch cabinet with representatives of the Statia Government in other policy areas such as agriculture and nature,” Plasterk stated.
“It is of importance that the Statia Government representatives at this time focus on realising a real balanced budget and to also get things in order in the administration. That doesn’t mean that no dialogue is possible with the Netherlands.”
According to the Minister, Statia’s Executive Council has “sufficient” opportunity to talk with the Netherlands “in the person of” the National Government Representative (Rijksvertegenwoordiger) Gilbert Isabella who has always been willing and who has visited the island several times in the past months.
A Plan of Approach has been drafted through the National Government Representative which will be discussed in a meeting on September 14 with Isabella, Secretary General Richard van Zwol of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations BZK and representatives of the Statia Government. The Plan of Approach was sent to the Dutch Parliament on Thursday.
As for Hachchi’s question on the impact of the boycott on the people of St. Eustatius, Plasterk replied that the solving of government’s administrative and financial problems would only benefit the island’s inhabitants.
