"General Kingdom measures are not higher supervision"

June 24, 2010 6:44 AM

THE HAGUE--The General Measures of Kingdom Government (Algemene Maatregelen van Rijksbestuur AMvRB) to regulate the tasks that Countries Curaçao and St. Maarten cannot execute on their own are not a form of higher supervision, the Dutch Government has stressed.

The General Measure of Kingdom Government arranges the cooperation between the Netherlands and Curaçao as well as between the Netherlands and St. Maarten to ensure that the new countries after the change of their status can realise their responsibilities as separate countries.

Dutch caretaker Minister of Justice, Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ernst Hirsch Ballin and State Secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten stated this in their response to the questions and remarks from the First Chamber. The 36-page document was sent to the Senate on Monday.

The liberal democratic VVD party had asked whether the General Measure of Kingdom Government meant that St. Maarten and possibly Curaçao in theory would attain country status but that in fact they would be placed under higher supervision.
The General Measure of Kingdom Government, AMvRB, entails the drafting and executing of plans of approach which is a responsibility of the country in question. Placed under the AMvRB for St. Maarten will be the Police Force, Immigration, Federal Detectives, Pointe Blanche Prison and Census Office. In Curaçao, the improvement plan of the Bon Futuro Prison and the design plan of the Police Force will be arranged via an AMvRB.

Execution of the plans of approach is not on a voluntary basis, explained Hirsch Ballin and Bijleveld-Schouten. To show their commitment to make sure these plans are fully executed, The Hague is making available a coordinator with the necessary government experience to guide the process.

The VVD also asked about the authority of the Kingdom Council of Ministers to intervene in case the country didn't execute the plans to the satisfaction of The Hague. The Minister and State Secretary stated that intervention would be to take decisions to make sure that the plans are executed. The last resort is higher supervision, as stated in article 51 of the Kingdom Charter.
As The Daily Herald reported on Wednesday, members of the First Chamber were not too satisfied with the answers by the cabinet. The Senate is considering postponing the July 6 plenary debate on the ten Kingdom Consensus Laws until September 14. This possible move, which parties are still to take a definite position on, might endanger the target date of October 10, 20101 to dismantle the Country the Netherlands Antilles and to launch countries Curaçao and St. Maarten.

24 June 2010