ST. EUSTATIUS–The Dutch-Government-appointed Committee of Wise Men consisting of Council of State member Jan Franssen and former Governor of Aruba Fredis Refunjol visited St. Eustatius for a week to speak with various persons to find a way forward from the current stalemate that exists between the Dutch Government and the Island Government.
Speaking at the end of their visit, Franssen said they were requested by caretaker Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk to find a way to possibly restore the broken relations between Statia and the Netherlands. “That is why we have been here on the island for one week,” he said.
During their stay on the island they gathered as much as possible information about the background of the problems, and found out how the people think they can be solved. “We received a lot of information after having spoken to many people during our visit. Now, we need some time to absorb all the information, and think about some solutions we can propose when we eventually finalize our report.”
Before publishing the report, which is due October 1, the wise men will engage in talks with quite a few persons in The Hague next month.
Talks are scheduled with the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT, with representatives of the various Ministries and others to make the puzzle complete.
In September, the wise men will return to Statia for some additional talks to make their proposals as complete as possible, and to create conditions that would make it possible to implement those proposals.
“It is too early to say what we have discussed and to clarify all the information we have received, as we have to absorb what has being said first,” said Franssen.
He said the Committee has to try and find the right way to help the island. “If you are living here, or coming here, it is shocking to see what kind of condition the island is in, the condition of the roads, the finances, the condition under which the Governor and the Commissioners have to do their work.”
Refunjol said they came to try to that get both sides talking and to try to find solutions. “Because the way it is going now is not good. It is not good, not for the islands, not for the country, so our best effort is to try and bridge the gap.”
The wise men said the local Government would not meet with them. They said they had tried several different routes to try to speak with the Commissioners or the ruling parties, but they were ultimately rebuked.
Their hope, however, is for everyone on the island to try to work with each other in finding the right way to help Statia.
“It is a small island. Everyone needs to work together to bring the island forward and do their utmost for the best interest of their country. There is a broad common understanding that the situation with the Netherlands cannot last, that things must change, and they will hopefully change in a positive way,” said Franssen.
The wise men said they will be fair and neutral in their work, and urged everyone to keep calm.
One person who met with the wise men, said he was very upset because their meeting had not been private, as was promised it would be. “To my surprise, I also saw two women at the table. Their role was not introduced, their function not explained. Quite wrong, especially as one of them is the woman the Netherlands wants to force upon us as the new Governor,” the man said on condition of anonymity.
The woman in question was Jenny Thunnissen, who is a member of Acting Island Governor Julian Woodley’s support staff. She was added to the Governor’s staff by the Dutch Government.
When asked for comment about the wise men’s visit, Island Government representatives said they had “no comment.”
Previously, Statia’s Government stated they were not going to speak with the wise men based on the fact that they had an agreement with Minister Plasterk that the Committee would consist of two persons to be submitted by the Dutch Government, and two by Statia.
However, Minister Plasterk did not agree with the two proposed Statia candidates.
Bron: Daily Herald
Statia never wanted to leave the Dutch Antilles and certainly did not want to become a special entity of the Netherlands. The Netherlands increasingly seem to have problems understanding the sentiments that live in the former colonies. There is a new and post modern brand of Dutch civil servants. They sadly lack the complete understanding of these difficult relations, like the gentleman Kees Borman is, former head of Constitutional Affairs in Holland. He had the utmost diplomatic tact and was well versed in the colonial history and long toes of all concerned. He could avoid all these easily ruffled feathers and so could effectuate the most amazing solutions in precarious situations. Fredis Refunjol is a worthy successor. However it seems that the Dutch Government wanted to overrule agreements. If Holland denied the nominated Statia candidates, what was the reason? Did each party agree with the required and prearranged criteria beforehand? If not, fair play seems to be lacking and the efforts of all concerned started off erroneously and indeed needless, we might observe. Renée van Aller & John de Vries