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Constitutional Change
Editorial - Security
The Daily Herald - Yesterday's approval of the so-called BES laws by the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament is good news for particularly Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, which now have a greater assurance that their long-awaited change of status to become special overseas public entities of the Netherlands indeed will become a reality in the not-too-distant future. It is important to remember that amending the Kingdom Charter to formalise the new constitutional relations will be left to the next second Chamber to be voted into office on June 9, but all the groundwork can be done in the meantime, of course.
Time to invite Geert WILDERS for a 'pep-talk' ?
SXM Island Times - This is to 'compliment' Mr. Jan-Peter BALKANENDE and all those Dutch ministers and parliamentarians, who against the growing public sentiments and fears of the St. Maarten people, have decided to declare the 'Antillean dossier' including the ill-fated constitutional changes 'non-controversial'.
Never mind that there is a growing momentum on the island to have a number of 'outstanding issues' placed in the draft-constitution of 'Country St. Maarten'.
To make matters even worse, even supporters of '10-10-10' are becoming extremely worried about the very ominous consequences of statements made by members of the ruling St. Maarten Government that in 'Country St. Maarten' there will be no (more) separation of 'State and Church', which has opened a 'Pandora box' for religious violence on the island, which can easily spread to mainland Holland.
Jacoba Reassures Officers At Information Session
PHILIPSBURG - Justice Minister Magali Jacoba spent Wednesday afternoon updating Police & Immigration Officers on the ongoing Dismantling Process. The meeting was held at the request of both the Antillean Police Union (NAPB) and the ABVO Union. One of the main concerns is the legal position of the officers as and after the transition is made to Country Status for both Curacao & St. Maarten. The Minister says those concerns can only be addressed by the Island Territory because the responsibility is being handed over by the Central Government.[More....]
Justice Minister and Unions Held Information Session.
SMNN -
Philipsburg: --- Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba, and Junior Minister Ernie Simmons attended information session, which was given to several police officers on Wednesday. The Police Union NABP organized the information session, which was provided by Geomally Martes Director of the SOAB of the Netherlands Antilles. Officers of the KPSSS are very concerned about the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles. Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba said she understands the concerns of the Federal Government Civil Servants and as such, the information sessions are needed to bring the workers up to speed with the process.[More....]
Separate Church and State!
It's been a while since I felt like blogging, Flipper's email asking me to write something for the site a couple days ago was on my mind but honestly, I'm just too fed up with it all. But then, today reading the Daily Herald's (nice new site by the way DH!) story about Frans and George saying they don't think SXM should have separation of Church and State I no longer had any choice.
I've covered religion and SXM's religious nuts a few times over the years, one my first blogs here was titled Gay Gay Gay Gay Gay, I was sick and tired of reading religious clap trap and homophobic hate speech in our papers, and about 3 weeks later the two CBS gay guys got whacked over the head with a tire iron in Maho. Links to some of my other blogs can be found on one I wrote last year titled 'State and Church Separation?'
Before I get stuck in to this lovely meaty morsel laid before me, let me just state as I have done in the past that it is not my intention to offend those with religious beliefs. However, I reserve the right to have and hold to my own non religious beliefs and that means it's probably impossible not to offend those with them when speaking my mind. You have been warned.
Police Union Advised Minister Not To Extend Contracts of Pensioners.
SMNN -
Philipsburg: --- The Minister of Justice Magali Jacoba was advised by the Police Unions not to grant any contracts to officers who are scheduled to leave on pension. SMN News has been reliably informed that at least six officers, two of which are from the management team of the police force are scheduled to go on pension. The source said even though the police force on St. Maarten is grossly understaffed it is the opinion of the police union that officers currently in the force can do a better job than those in management and those officers should receive the necessary promotions to lead the police force.[More....]
Dutch PM advised to push ahead with Antillian constitutional change
PHILIPSBURG - The political crisis continues in Holland and the anxitey of the Antillian islands including St. Maarten continues. Gonzalo Cuales in his PJD-2 report on Thursday stated that the president of Parliamanet is insisting that in the first week of March, the Dutch parliament should deal with the legislation and the consensus laws that would make 10.10.10. possible.[More....]
Duncan believes the constitutional process can continue
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Roland Duncan, minister of constitutional affairs said the fall of the Dutch government does not affect the formation of the countries Curacao and St. Maarten or the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles as much as is possible.
He said he is not pessimistic about the matter but that he would rather wait and see what happens first. "We will deal with this situation on a day to day basis as it develops," Duncan said.
With the fall of the Dutch gov't: Curacao opposition parties not moved by appeals to form front
WILLEMSTAD/GREAT BAY - Opposition parties in Curacao are not moved by recent pleas of Prime Minister Emily de Jongh-Elhage, for all the parties to form a united front to send a clear message to Holland that the constitutional deadline of 10/10/10 should not be affected by the fall of the Dutch Government. De-Jongh-Elhage, who was speaking as leader of the PAR party recently, called for all political parties in Curacao to champion on behalf of the island and the rest of the Netherlands Antilles that 10/10/10 be a fixed date for constitutional change, regardless of the political developments in Holland.[More....]
GRASS ROOT SUPPORT FOR SARAH WESCOTT-WILLIAMS'S CALL. 'Time to include outstanding issues in the constitution'.
SMNN - While the expected delay of '10-10-10' may frustrate many, if not most politicians, it certainly does not result in any 'popular uprising'- or 'revolt' withing our community.
We daresay, that there will be not even a 'ripple' of popular-protest against such possible delay
On the contrary, many citizens have uttered a deep sigh of relief at the 'Divine intervention' which completely shows up arrogant statements like 'etched in stone' and 'sealed and delivered...'.
Now, whether the good lady genuinely meant it or not, to us is irrelevant at this point.
While most of the time, we have been critical of the council-lady in the past, based on principles, this time around, we reserve the rights to credit her.
