Dear Editor,
Please allow me to respond to that article entitled “On Parity” in the following manner. I must admire the energy and effort of the writer, but would ask him to be more careful when challenging the Democratic Party of Statia. We do our research and present the facts to the people of Statia in accordance with our code of ethics. We have no desire to scare or frighten our citizens, but we do believe that all is better served with truthful and factual information.
In his letter of the 8th of June 2015, Minister Plasterk informed the second chamber of the Netherlands about the tax and premium income and total Federal Expenses of the Caribbean Netherlands, divided over Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba for the year 2014.
Of the €110 million collected in the BES Islands, €13 million or 11, 8 % was collected on Statia. A whopping 80% of that income was collected on Bonaire. Of the €287 million in total BES expenditures, €54 million was attributed to Statia. €13/€54=24%; this means that the Dutch Government is covering 76% of our expenses, or three times the taxes and premiums generated on Statia. Until other information is available this is the information we will continue to refer to.
I also noticed Glen that you omitted to mention the €42 million that the Dutch Government pays into the BES Fund, which is paid out as free allowance, bringing the total expenditures for 2016 to €340 million, instead of the €298 you quoted in your article. You need to get your information straight, recalculate your parity and explain how income generated by Bonaire will finance an autonomous Statia.
We are all for more autonomy and support all actions that lead to a more self-sufficient and sustainable Statia. Being able to carry your own load is the real key to more autonomy. Our focus therefor should be to build our economy and improve the wellbeing of our people. We in no way can support a coalition government that has divorced itself from the very essential funding available to Statia to help us on our way.
While Statia is content to argue and fight the Dutch every step of the way, Bonaire and Saba are grabbing what they can. I never thought in all my years we would be arguing over the size, and fighting for a bill the Dutch Government is content to pay on behalf of the people of Statia.
What is interesting to know is what sacrifices Glen and the coalition government are asking the people of Statia to make? Will the universal health care remain intact? What will be the amount of old age pension and social benefits? Will our teachers and civil servants continue to receive their yearly periodic increases and cost-of-living adjustments? What about the regular CLA adjustments? Will education continue to be free?
My advice to you Glen is to stay far from the issue of integrity, leave that for someone else. Correct your numbers and recalculate your parity and focus on Statia, not the three Islands together. Bonaire’s revenues belong to Bonaire. Come out of the clouds; there’s no autonomy without responsibility.
Ernie Simmons
Advisor to the Democratic Party of Statia
