Large interest shown during OCAN’s Dutch Caribbean themed EU election debate; available online.

THE HAGUE:--- In a bid to generate more awareness and involvement within and by the Dutch Caribbean community, OCAN in collaboration with The ProDemos House for Democracy organised "European-Dutch-Caribbean voices in the EU-parliament" in connection with the upcoming EU parliamentary elections on May 22nd 2014. A video summary of the debate, covered by RTV-7/Nostisia.com, was broadcasted on TeleCuraçao and is available online through the YouTube URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JgFfqsOpn0, or searching using the terms: Ocan Debat Europese Verkiezingen. A radio summary by the NTR can be heard through the URL http://www.dichtbijnederland.nl/page/detail/796450.

OCAN strongly urges the general public of the Windward and Leeward islands to view the debate which will supplement any general knowledge of the relation of the European Union and the OCTs Aruba, Curaçao, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten and what the standpoints of various political parties are in regards to the islands. Some 50 plus persons were on hand in Rotterdam on May 17th to engage in dialogue with the 9 invited EU candidates that were allowed time to state their agreement or disagreement with five debate propositions prepared by OCAN. The five propositions which evoked sharp commentary from the audience and eagerness by the 9 politicians to tap into the voiced concerns were:

1. "European values are Judeo-Christian and humanist. These should be embedded in a European constitution."
2. "Europe should henceforth only grant entry to the skilled migrant. Integration is also The sole responsibility of the migrant."
3. "To lose Europe, is to gain adversity."
4. "The Caribbean section of the Kingdom must become an integral part of the European Union."
5. "The Dutch Euro parliamentarians should look after the desires and needs of Citizens in the Netherlands and Caribbean more actively, otherwise a rejection Of the European constitution will equal a rejection of Europe?"

OCAN reminds all eligible voters that as EU citizens, you are allowed to vote for your representation in the European Parliament on May 22nd, 2014.