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The Daily Herald writes that the process to appoint a new National Government Representative (Rijksvertegenwoordiger) for Dutch public entities Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba before this summer has started.Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk stated this in a letter to the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Friday, in relation to the evaluation of the Dutch government coordination of tasks in the Caribbean Netherlands.
The Council of Ministers approved on Friday the implementation of the recommendations of the Van Gastel/Thunissen/Johnson evaluation committee. (See related article). The Dutch government will use the profile that the committee has proposed for the National Government Representative. The selection of candidates for the new National Government Representative will start right after the next general debate of Plasterk with the Second Chamber on issues pertaining to the Caribbean Netherlands.
Plasterk anticipated that a new National Government Representative could be appointed by the Council of Ministers before the summer recess of Parliament in July. The procedure will be transparent, in accordance with the wishes of the Second Chamber.
Current National Government Representative Wilbert Stolte will resign per May 1 this year. Acting National Government Representative Julian Woodley will be in charge until the appointment of a new representative. The Council of Ministers has agreed to shorten the appointment term of the National Government Representative from six to three years, with the possibility of a one-time re-appointment.
The function of the representative will be adapted. “The function will more resemble the role of government’s permanent representative in Brussels,” stated Plasterk in an invited comment. The supporting bureau of the National Government Representative will no longer be necessary as he/she will be supported by the National Government Service Caribbean Netherlands RCN and the liaisons of the Dutch ministries on the islands. “This will decrease the administrative burden,” said Plasterk.