Philipsburg:--- Former Constitutional Affairs commissioner Sarah Wescot Williams in a press release said while all indications of the last couple of weeks pointed in the direction of a cabinet crisis in Holland, it is rather unfortunate that this happens just now.The past week also revealed a rift between the Dutch Parliament and the State Secretary of Kingdom affairs, Mrs. Ank Bijleveld with regard to the handling of the constitutional (consensus) Kingdom laws by the same Parliament.
Notwithstanding the State Secretary's admonishment that if 10-10-10 is to be achieved, the Dutch Parliament needs to handle these laws as soon as possible, the same Parliament feels they should set their own agenda.
The Parliament hinted to the handling of these laws in April, at the same time wanting to visit the islands during the month of April and preferably before they deal with the draft laws.
All of this is now up in the air says Wescot Williams.
On March 3rd, there will be local elections in Holland.
In addition to this political barometer, regular elections for the Dutch Parliament were scheduled for late 2010/ early 2011, as the current Dutch Parliamentary term would have ended in February 2011.
The Dutch government was facing some tough baffles before the scheduled elections of 2011. In addition to its international standing on several matters, the budgetary dilemmas facing the cabinet and the need to make drastic cuts were also on the horizon.
What does all of this mean for Sint Maarten?
Already during the discussions of the Second Chamber on the issue of the constitutional Kingdom laws, doubt about St. Maarten was again raised. The government of Sint Maarten's "we are not ready" admission has surely not helped in this respect.
No party in the Netherlands is eager to wage a battle in St. Maarten's defense. There wasn't one before and there surely is none now.
Our best bet under these circumstances?
Close ranks on the constitutional process. Before this is misunderstood; with closing ranks, I do not mean a picture of government and opposition of Sint Maarten sitting shoulder to shoulder at a meeting of the Political Steering Group. This is purely cosmetic.
Close ranks with the opposition and establish a position on matters like the currency, the constitution for Country Sint Maarten, the island budget, the good governance laws ( as prepared by the current opposition (DP) and announced b y government (NA) in July 2009); justice matters, taxes and health.
Yes, probably 10-10-10 is in danger, but the quest for Country Sint Maarten is not.
We need to pursue that quest with all that we have and with all who we have, so that together we can shoulder any disappointment coming our way and remain determined and adamant to see the process to its end.
