THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – Next Monday, the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament will discuss a proposal from the SP MP Ronald van Raak and VVD MP André Bosman. In the note that both have presented, they advocate for a future commonwealth-like bond between the Netherlands and the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
In short, the MPs concluded that the countries are increasingly drifting apart. The Kingdom Council of Ministers, in which the Netherlands has always had the majority, takes measures in case of bad governance and when things get out of control in the finances of Aruba, St. Maarten and Curacao. These measures lead to a growing resistance from the island against The Hague.
Van Raak and Bosman believe that it is now the time for the Caribbean countries to become truly autonomous. Netherlands would sign a treaty of cooperation with each country separately, according to the wishes and needs of each island.
Netherlands can also impose conditions on such cooperation. The population of each island remains completely free to determine its own future and to terminate the assistance of the Netherlands, said the MPs in their initiative note.
Bron: Curacao Chronicle