WILLEMSTAD--The recent visit of outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (CDA) to Curaçao was purely and only within the framework of his concern about the constitutional changes. In no way whatsoever did Balkenende wish to exert influence on the local political process, in other words the efforts to form a new Island Government.

The aforementioned is at least what several local political leaders declared after they had spoken with Balkenende. During this visit, the Dutch prime minister himself categorically refused to speak with the local press.

Political leader of "Movementu Futuro Kòrsou" (MFK) Gerrit Schotte said Balkenende wanted to be informed on the local political situation and what are the consequences, of such for approval or not, of the draft Constitution for the new country Curaçao.

The new Island Council that is to be seated on September 4 will have to deal with the draft. There must be clarity on the Constitution before September 7, as the Second Chamber of Dutch Parliament will be meeting on that day to decide on the commencement date of the amendment of the Kingdom Charter, enabling Curaçao and St. Maarten to gain the status of autonomous country within the Kingdom.

According to Schotte, Balkenende is concerned that the date for the final Round Table Conference (RTC) is in danger if there is no majority for the Constitution in Curaçao.

MAN list leader Eunice Eisden also visited with Balkenende and said she made it clear that one will have to wait until Saturday when the new Island Council is seated.

"Pueblo Soberano" (PS) in any case will not cooperate with the approval of the draft Constitution in the Island Council. PS leader Helmin Wiels informed Balkenende accordingly.

Wiels was not pleased as to how the conversation came about. The PS leader received an invitation at eleven o'clock for a meeting that was to take place at two-thirty already.

Eventually Wiels agreed to the conversation that started at three o'clock and was to last forty-five minutes. During the conversation Balkenende also mentioned his concern about the financial and law enforcement situation in St. Maarten; the problems to get the amended Kingdom Charter approved by the Aruba Parliament and Curaçao to approve its draft Constitution.

As it relates to the latter, Wiels was very critical of the role played by the Netherlands. "The Netherlands fell into the trap that they had set together with PAR. They thought that the PAR would now win the elections with ten to eleven seats."

"However, as this did not happen, they are left holding the bag. I clearly indicated that PS would not cooperate. We oppose this Constitution and find that a new process should be started to realise a real Constitution for country Curaçao," added Wiels.

According to the PS leader, the conversation took place within the framework of a lobby with Balkenende attempting to rescue the constitutional process. "He sees they will not succeed and now appeals to us."

Balkenende was also in Aruba, where he also expressed his concern about the situation on Aruba relating to the approval of the new Kingdom Charter that the Aruba Parliament is discussing.

In case there is no two-thirds majority for the proposal in the first "reading," it will be put on the agenda again for a next meeting, in which it can then be adopted with a regular majority.