Dear Editor,
The United People’s Coalition (UPC) acknowledges that in a constitutional democracy there are a set of rules, with counterbalancing influences in place to keep those in charge honest, in the widest sense of the word. In dealing with a government as such, those rules fall under checks and balances on the judicial-, legislative- and executive branches.
The checks and balances that Statia’s government must adhere to are anchored in the WolBES and the FinBES. More specifically, these are, among others, in the hands of the island council, the governor, the Kingdom Representative (KR), the Council of financial supervision (CFT), and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK). Of course, the people also have a say when they evaluate the individual politicians and validate their level of production in the vote they cast every four years. What should be clear is the fact that these checks and balances are only meaningful and effective with enforcement of sanctions in case of failures.
In Statia’s case, we have seen the following infractions and failures in the last eighteen months: failure of not having a 2017 budget, no submission of adequate quarterly financial reports, no financial year reports 2015 and 2016, appointments of personnel, an island secretary and Island financial controller and an Interim Director, all paid out of the government’s coffer without the approval of the Kingdom Representative.
Because no decisive actions were taken by the governor, the Kingdom Representative, the CFT nor the Ministry, the ruling coalition stretched the envelope by taking their illegal behaviour a step further by adopting a motion in the island council where they declared the WolBES and the FinBES invalid, indicating to The Hague they will not adhere to these laws enacted to govern our lives and liberty.
This last action of the ruling coalition is indicative of a wider power grab by this coalition by creating a vacuum in which they have 'carte blanche' to do as they feel under the disguise of several UN treaties, hence fulfilling the many campaign promises, such as appointments of unqualified cronies, threatening of the civil corps, signing agreements without the signature of the governor, travelling at will, and using the funds out of the people’s coffer as if they have impunity.
So, is it then fair to state that because of the inept attitude and failure of enforcing the check and balances in the interest of our people against the ruling coalition by above-mentioned ministry (BZK), they facilitated and also encouraged the ruling coalition to perpetuate this lawless governing?
As a result of this lackadaisical attitude of BZK, UPC must conclude that to continue blaming this present coalition alone is useless. Governing like this is the new normal for them, because sadly, it is condoned by the entities in charge. So, the suffering of our people under this administration falls squarely not only on the shoulders of this coalition, but moreover also on that of Minister Plasterk of Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, for dropping the ball.
Reginald C. Zaandam
Leader of the United People's Coalition
