Recourt to Bonaire for election campaign

Candidate number 23 of the Dutch Labour Party PvdA Jeroen Recourt will go to Bonaire this Saturday to campaign for the March 15 Parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. He wants to urge the people of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba to vote.

Recourt is known on the islands as the Chairman of the Permanent Committee of Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament, but his visit to Bonaire will strictly be as a candidate on the PvdA slate.

He has a great affiliation with the islands and has worked as a Judge in Aruba in the past. Recourt is of the opinion that the voice of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba should also be heard in the Second Chamber, which acts as the Parliament on behalf of these islands.

He is highly concerned that many people may not vote on March 15. In his opinion, the democracy cannot function without the input of the voters. “Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are three unique and beautiful islands far away from the Netherlands. I love this piece of the Kingdom. No matter how beautiful they are, there are still many problems that need solving.

The Second Chamber can help to solve these problems. Yet, too few people appear to cast their vote on March 15,” said Recourt.

During his four-day visit to Bonaire, Recourt intends to listen to the people’s needs and concerns so he can take these back to the Parliament, and to also convince the people to vote. “Let your voice be heard in the Dutch Parliament. Vote for someone who knows your island. It is very important.”

Recourt said he was well aware of the people’s feelings that not enough has been done to allow the islands’ economies to grow and to eradicate poverty, and that what The Hague finds important didn’t always match with what the islands considered essential.

In Bonaire, Recourt will make house calls and meet with employers and employees. He wants to gather more information on the poverty issue, the high cost of living, the renovation of infrastructure and the problems with affordable, dependable air connections.

Recourt will be available for personal talks with the voters. He will travel back to the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Unfortunately he won’t be able to come to St. Eustatius and Saba for logistical reasons.

The Daily Herald.