Dear Editor,
Plato and Socrates, ancient scholars of democracy and democratic systems, would be puzzled by the system of democracy employed in the Dutch Kingdom. More contemporary scholars like Montesquieu and Richelieu renowned for their Egalite, Liberte and Fraternite will be totally flabbergasted to learn that a European power whose elected officials do not campaign or seek a vote in the overseas territories, or allow citizens of these territories to vote in their elections, have so much input in what happens in the daily running of the overseas territories. Lest I forget the colonial master also does not contribute to the budgets of the territories.
Some friends and I were wondering aloud why nothing is being said on this side of the Atlantic about the amount of time it is taken to form a government since the March elections. In our case every time we are called upon to form a government, be it by election or so-called ship jumping, we get interference from across the pond. We are accused of everything shady and nefarious; if we are not buying out people, we are letting the underworld influence our government.
In the past we were also informed that certain locals (Theo Heyliger and Roland Duncan) could not be part of any cabinet. In other words, irrespective of what the people decided at the polls “we don’t care we are mighty and might is right.” These same people proclaim to the world that the overseas territories are autonomous and they only provide nationality, foreign affairs and defence on their behalf.
Truth be told, they are most prevalent in all parts of our daily lives. So we find it strange and even mind boggling that no one on this side finds anything strange with the length of time it is taking them to form a government in which we are interested for they also impact our lives.
We are also concerned when we hear that a discussion of changes to the euthanasia law caused another delay or that failure to raise the pay of school teachers might further frustrate things. We ask ourselves why should we not think or suggest that they too are in shady and nefarious deals that may not be in our favour. Strangely enough the outgoing Minister of Kingdom Affairs thought it important to visit the islands to bid his farewell, but according to the Antilleans Dagblad, also to feel the pulse of the local leaders on their feelings on a deferred motion by van Raak and Bosman to seek advice and guidance from the UN to have the UN escort us out of the kingdom.
From the press conference nothing was said about that part, what we heard was how good things go when we cooperate, or put differently, when we do as we are told. The good minister also did not give any information on a proposal from parliament to withdraw the military ships stationed in the Caribbean and post them in the Mediterranean for immigration control. This mind you is while we are ask to pay a huge sum for the services and in St. Maarten case unjustly so, for we have no maritime economic zone our maritime boundaries extend between three and four miles east because of St. Barths, and to the south and west the same because of Saba and French St. Martin.
The ugly dispute with the French republic reared its ugly head yet again so more proof that we need this government to be formed post haste to deal with the Oyster Pond boundary issue. Coalitions take time; every party has its pledges and promises to their constituents, there are varying priorities and pet projects and if it takes Holland six or more months doesn’t mean that for our size we should take less. Size does not and should not determine the importance of issues for a people, however, varying the demographics may be. So, may I suggest that we let our voices be heard without fear, for thus far the silence is deafening.
Elton Jones
