NEWSLETTER
Emergency meeting on the execution of SEI
- September 22, 2008 6:38 AM
An emergency meeting was held today with amongst others Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage and fellow party member and Commissioner of Political Structure Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR) about the execution of the Social Economic Initiative (SEI).
Quick decision on concession Colombus
- September 22, 2008 6:24 AM
Minister Maurice Adriaens (Telecommunication, FOL) expects a decision on the granting of the concession to Columbus Networks Curaçao soon. The Telecommunication and Post Bureau (BTP) has meanwhile given the local establishment of the international cable company the go ahead for providing international telephone- and internet services on the island.
Economic depression hits Apna
- September 18, 2008 7:46 AM
The General Pension Fund of the Netherlands Antilles (Apna) has booked a negative result of 8.4 percent on foreign investments in the first half of 2008. Apna obviously did not remain unaffected by the current international economic depression.
Curacao does nothing with the SEI-millions
- September 18, 2008 7:44 AM
Until now, Curaçao has hardly spent one cent of the 130 million guilders that was made available for the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) projects. Rob Vermaas, the Representative of the Netherlands in the Netherlands Antilles is very concerned about this. The implementing organization has the money and nothing is being done with it.
Take over of the debt in AMvRB financial supervision
- September 18, 2008 7:42 AM
The Netherlands’ commitment to take over the Antillean debts is laid down in the Order in Council for the Kingdom (AMvRB) temporary financial supervision Netherlands Antilles, Curaçao, and St. Maarten, says Finance-minister Ersilia de Lannooy (PNP). The Netherlands has until now always opposed the Antilles’ fundamental desire to include the commitment in the AMvRB.
Lectures at UNA
- September 17, 2008 6:13 AM
The Faculty of Law of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) organizes a number of lectures, this week and the coming month.
Extra millions for BES-islands
- September 17, 2008 5:59 AM
In order to come to what’s called an ‘acceptable provisional level’, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba can count on extra money from the Netherlands, namely 13 million euro (almost 20 million guilders) in 2009 and 14 million euro (21 million guilders) in 2010.
This appears from the draft-budget for Kingdom Relations 2009 (the so-called chapter IV) that was presented today in the Netherlands on the day of the Queen’s speech.
Fraud FCIB estimate 600 billion British pounds
- September 16, 2008 3:17 PM
Investigators estimate the British sales tax (VAT) fraud via the First Curaçao International Bank (FCIB) to be one trillion American dollars, which comes down to 600 billion British pounds.
No paternity law submitted with Parliament
- September 15, 2008 10:14 AM
‘A paternity enactment was never submitted to Parliament’, is Pedro Atacho’s (chairman of Parliament, PAR) reaction on yesterday’s letter to the editor from Doctor Sergio Leon in newspaper Amigoe. In his letter, Leon criticizes the fact that there is no paternity act in the Antilles and establishes that this is because politicians have ‘too much butter on their heads’.
International protest action: Parliament against the VIA
- September 15, 2008 6:12 AM
Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles back the Antillean government in her protest against the introduction of the Index Reference Antilleans (VIA) or any other equivalent registration that is based on ethnicity. This parliament also requests the De Jongh-Elhage government, the Governing Bodies of the Antillean island territories, the United Nations, and the European council of Ministers to let this be known.
Meeting on political changes in Amsterdam
- September 15, 2008 5:56 AM
ProFor Foundation, a consultancy that promotes the integration and participation of the several ethnic groups within the Dutch society, is going to organize an informative meeting on the political renewal and the position of the Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, and the Netherlands. This meeting will be held at Keienbergweg 3 in Amsterdam Zuidoost on Sunday 5 October from 14:00 till 18:00 hour.
Postponement Parliamentary elections not under discussion
- September 15, 2008 5:53 AM
The request for a possible postponement of the 2010 Parliament elections is currently not under discussion, indicated the State Council in a published information on the acceleration of the transition process, which was requested by the Netherlands and the Netherlands Antilles.
âPoolâ of good Supervisory Directors
- September 15, 2008 4:50 AM
A ‘supervisory director’ course has been set up under the Good Governance chair of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA). Recently, a number of companies have received correspondence regarding this new course.
Independance of Island States, gift for new countries
- September 12, 2008 10:59 AM
The Island States strive for achieving higher productivity this year, for giving more information on the method of working, and for finally rounding off the privatization. Parliament can this way operate even more independently from the governor and the Land. An independant parliament is also a nice gift for the new countries Curacao and St. Maarten that can take this over integrally.
Disagreement on role for governor
- September 12, 2008 10:52 AM
Neither the government of the Netherlands Antilles, nor that of Curacao agree with the role that the StateCouncil (RvS) allots the governor in the advice on accelerating the transition process. The Antillean advisors are currently working on a counter-advice, says Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage (PAR). Also the Curacao advisors are going to look into the part.
De Jongh-Elhage to Balkenende: "VIA stigmatizing and unacceptable"
- September 12, 2008 10:49 AM
Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage (PAR) is of the opinion that the Index Reference Antilleans (VIA – Verwijsindex Antillianen) makes ethnical and racial based distinction and stigmatizes the Antillean population as a whole. This is what she wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) and Integration-minister Ella Vogelaar (PvdA) that was sent earlier this week.
Lecture at UNA
- September 12, 2008 7:53 AM
On Friday 19 September, the Faculty of Law is organizing a lecture entitled "De Curacaose identiteit binnen een Caribische context" by Dr. Rose Mary Allen.
The lecture will start at 20.00 hour in classroom N5 of the University of Netherlands Antilles.
Lecture at UNA
- September 12, 2008 7:36 AM
The Faculty of Law of the University of the Netherlands Antilles (UNA) organizes a lecture, entitled: "Brua ïn de rechtzaal" (Brua in the court room). Guest speaker: Dr. B.D. van der Velden, of the UNA.
Date: tuesday 18 September 2008
Place: Auditorium UNA
Time: 20.00 hour
Entrance: free
Language: Dutch
"Surplus" on budget 2009
- September 11, 2008 7:42 AM
Minister Ersilia de Lannooy (Finance, PNP) has build in a 10 million guilder reserve in the budget for 2009. Because the budget is balanced, – no loss, but also no bank balance – the reserve is in fact a ‘surplus’.
Governor pleads for tolerance
- September 11, 2008 7:29 AM
A careful dismantling of the country Netherlands Antilles and a substantial transfer of powers form the core of the policy for the coming parliamentary year. The emphasis lays on cooperation between existing and future entities. A sharp debate about the future structure is acceptable, but with respect and dignity. Tolerance is an absolute condition to form the political reformation in a dignified manner.