Parliament happy with
change in treatment
AIRPORT--The treatment of Members of Parliament on their way back to Curaçao and Bonaire went much better compared to their recent trip from St. Maarten to Saba.
President of Parliament Pedro Atacho told The Daily Herald Princess Juliana International Airport’s (PJIA’s) protocol service had done excellently and everything had gone smoothly.
After checking in to board their flight Saturday morning, the Members of Parliament went to the information booth and requested the protocol service. “We were taken to the employers’ entrance. We had to empty our pockets, but were not required to take off jackets, shoes or belts. We were checked with a handheld metal detector,” Vice President of Parliament Getmar Caldera said.
The Parliamentarians were then taken to the VIP lounge and from there they boarded their plane.
Atacho said he had agreed with airport authorities that every time a Parliamentarian had to travel to or from St. Maarten the protocol service could be contacted so it would be aware of who was coming or going.
He also said he intended to inform the Central Government about the arrangements made with the airport. “In case a Minister is travelling to or from St. Maarten the secretariat of the Council of Ministers can contact the PJIA protocol service and inform it,” Atacho said.
The Parliamentarians visited the Windward Islands last week in light of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of parliamentary democracy in the Netherlands. They arrived in St. Maarten Tuesday, travelled to Saba on Wednesday, went to St. Eustatius on Thursday and finished the celebrations in St. Maarten on Friday before returning to Curaçao and Bonaire on Saturday.
