|
Time for Dutch Government to show political commitment
Real estate news By Netherlands Antilles Daily Herald
Jan 29, 2008
Dutch politicians have to indicate what their commitment will be to the BES islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba and concrete agreements should be reached on the standard of living, the tasks for which the Kingdom will be responsible and what the islands will do for themselves. These issues will be the main focus for the BES islands during the current week of meetings in The Hague, the Netherlands, the three islands agreed during Monday’s meeting with representatives of the Association of Dutch Municipalities VNG.
The first meeting was held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Kingdom Relations with financial expert of the VNG Gijs Oskam, who visited the islands last year. He discussed the main areas in which the association can help the islands and issues such as the division of tasks, financing from the BES funds and specific social benefits. A political consultation on Thursday should conclude with the BES islands taking a major step towards attaining the status of “public entity” within the Netherlands.
Oskam advised the BES islands to get the political discussion started on the standard of living. However, the islands indicated that political decision-making should follow preparation on the technical level, so that topic could not be discussed with civil servants on the technical level. Bonaire was represented by Constitutional Affairs Commissioner Anthony Nicolaas, Finance Commissioner Burney Elhage and leader of the governing UPB party Island Council member and Parliamentarian Ramonsito Booi, and advisor Johan Afman.
Send tips or a Letter to the Editor to editor@updatere.com
|
