All persons with a Dutch nationality and registered at the Census Office have a right to vote in the EU parliamentary elections. Registration to participate closes on Wednesday, April 22 and you can register with a valid passport or ID card.
A person needs to register and can pick up a registration form at the Census Office or go to the Office of Dutch Representation on Front Street upstairs across from the St. Rose Arcade. You can also register via the website www.uheefthetvoorhetzeggen.nl
The law was changed several years ago to make it possible for Dutch Antilleans and Arubans to vote in the EU parliamentary elections.
The European Parliament is the only directly-elected body of the EU. It is located in Brussels and Strasbourg. The parliament comprises of 785 members who are elected every five years by voter's right across the 27 Member States of the EU on behalf of its 492 million citizens.
The EU Parliament organizes its work, through a system of specialized committees. Parliament plays an active role in drafting legislation which has an impact on the daily lives of its citizens. The work of the EU Parliament is important because in many policy areas, decisions on new European laws are made jointly by Parliament and the Council of Ministers, which represents Member States.
"I think our nation's participation in the EU parliamentary elections is very important. We have an opportunity to participate in these elections which never existed. It is an opportunity to vote for a person who will get the opportunity to have a voice in the EU parliament with respect to our views on issues.
"Our island nation is tied to the EU via our relationship with Holland within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Legislation within the EU can have an indirect impact on us. Our neighbors (French St. Martin) to the North are part of the EU and are already governed by EU rules and regulations.
"At this moment the Netherlands Antilles has the status of an Overseas Country & Territory (OCT) relationship with the EU. Once we get our country status, this relationship will also exist with the EU and country St. Maarten. The EU has been promoting a new status called the Ultra Periphery Territory (UPT) and this would entail the incorporation of EU rules and regulations, however the Island Government has decided that for a period of five years we would retain the status of OCT. The UPT is a policy area that we have to study very carefully and by having a representative in the EU parliament we can have a say on matters indirectly having an impact on the socio-economic well being of our island nation and I therefore urge you to register before April 22 so we can also have a say," Leader of Government Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS).
