PvdA: delay change Constitution for islands

The Dutch Labour Party PvdA in the Second Chamber is not convinced that now is a good time to amend the Dutch Constitution to regulate the constitutional position of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. The PvdA pointed out in its observations regarding the law proposal to change the Constitution that the support on the islands for the current constitutional status of ‘public entity’ has diminished.

“The lack of improvement in a great number of areas, the problems as a result of new legislation and the new status, plus the fact that the Dutch government apparently is incapable of solving this in an adequate and timely manner, have led to a great disappointment among the people and a diminishing local support,” according to the PvdA. As a result of this discontent on the islands it is not entirely clear whether the ‘public entity’ status will indeed be the final status for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba when the evaluation takes place in 2015, stated the PvdA.

The opposition party asked the Dutch government whether it was not wiser to postpone the amendment to the Constitution until after the 2015 evaluation as originally proposed. Initially, government wanted to initiate a change to the Constitution after the 2015 evaluation. This plan was altered after the Second Chamber adopted the December 9, 2009, motion of then Member of Parliament Johan Remkes of the liberal democratic VVD party to secure the status of the islands in the Constitution before the evaluation.

The Second Chamber’s Permanent Committee for Home Affairs has started the handling of a change to the Constitution. Today, Thursday, the different parties represented in the Committee will submit their observations and questions on the law proposal in question.

Source: “The Daily Herald ” 2012-03-08