Duncan hopes to resolve
justice matters next week
PHILIPSBURG--Constitutional Affairs Minister Roland Duncan has high hopes that the remaining justice issues related to the constitutional change process will be ironed out next week.
State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld-Schouten will be in the Netherlands Antilles assisting Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende during his visit. The Dutch PM is scheduled to arrive in St. Maarten on Sunday, February 10.
The authority of the Dutch Minister of Justice to give directives to the Attorney General of the Netherlands Antilles and the issue of one Attorney General for the entire Dutch Antilles are the only remaining points of discussion related to the November 2, 2006, accord.
“It is a legal concern that needs to be worked out. Curaçao ad St. Maarten will have an autonomous status within the Kingdom.”
However, the Minister said, if the law is formulated in such a manner that the Dutch will have the authority to give directives, it has to be made clear how that will be done. Who will be held responsible if mistakes are made is one of the questions that needs to be answered, according to the Minister.
However, Duncan said the constitutional change process had advanced considerably compared to last year August. He is optimistic that the last hurdle on justice matters will be cleared. “Some minor arguments need to be sorted out. Let’s pray that we will make balanced decisions.”
If an agreement is reached on justice matters, Duncan said, all the issues the Dutch Government has tabled will have been dealt with. “That would mean that it’s up to the islands to construct the new entities and deal with each other on pending matters such as the Central Bank and an admittance and expulsion regulation.”
In this regard, he referred to a package of new measures Dutch Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin wanted to introduce to declare juvenile criminals unwanted in the Netherlands and send them back to their country of origin.
“It’s an American approach, but I doubt whether it can be implemented in the Kingdom. If a person was born in Aruba and has lived almost all his life in the Netherlands, is he still considered an Aruban?” Duncan queried.
He said the Dutch Minister’s new proposal did not impress him.
