Says former Lt. Governor Franklyn Richards

By Suzanne Koelega

THE HAGUE--Country St. Maarten presents a "window of opportunity," but it means that all hands have to be on deck. A comprehensive approach is essential in this. Franklyn Richards would not easily have vented such a statement if he was still Lt. Governor of the Island Territory St. Maarten.

No longer in function since August 10 this year, Richards (60) openly speaks his mind about St. Maarten's future as a country within the Kingdom. Sure, the plans of approach are important to guarantee that tasks like police, immigration, national detectives, prison, and the Census Office are properly executed when St. Maarten becomes a country on October 10.

But what Richards misses in this big exercise to become a country is a comprehensive approach that would benefit the island in the broadest sense. Areas like education, public health, infrastructural development, and the environment all need to be dealt with. "One should not wait for the Netherlands to come with this comprehensive approach," he said.

Parties now have the opportunity to address these areas of concern, which should result in policy plans for the island. These policy plans could be part of the governing accord of a new government. "The bottom line is the wellbeing of the people. These actions make the Dutch Second Chamber understand that we are seriously addressing the issues to the benefit of the people," said Richards.

It is no secret that country St. Maarten needs plenty of resources, both financial and human resources. But (technical) assistance from the Netherlands is also needed. "St. Maarten can't do it alone. We have to do it with the Netherlands. We need their help," said Richards.

Social upheaval

If pressing social issues like education, health care, and safety are not addressed, St. Maarten will end up with "social upheaval," said the former Lt. Governor. Country status means that St. Maarten will be accountable for its own actions. "When things go wrong, we can only blame ourselves, no longer Curaçao or the Lt. Governor. Our government will have to answer to the people," he said. Besides accountability, there should also be transparency with people being able to be involved in decision taking. The latter is currently not the case, he added.

Richards is a supporter of separate status. "We have reached the point of no return where it comes to the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles," he said adding that Country status means working very hard.

"We won't become a country on October 10 by simply putting a label on us that says, 'Country.' If St. Maarten fails to assume this new responsibility, we will get higher supervision and that is not what we want," he said.

The budget is an important steering mechanism for a country. That is why Richards considered it a "good suggestion" for the Council of Financial Supervision CFT to be stationed on the island. Government plans, including the comprehensive plan that Richards would like to see, should be visible in the budget.

Transparency

Richards said he was glad that during his 10-year tenure, he was able to achieve more transparency in corporate governance and stringent rules for government-owned companies. "St. Maarten is now ahead of Curaçao and even the Netherlands where that is concerned," he said.

He called the code of conduct for members of government, which he prepared, but which was never approved by the Island Council, a "missed opportunity." However, many aspects in the code of conduct were included in some of the organic laws for Country St. Maarten.

Good governance was always important to Richards and it was an often recurring topic in his speeches and interviews. "Good governance doesn't happen 1-2-3. It implies a mentality change." Good governance will benefit from the system of dualism that will be implemented with country status, because control will be in the hands of Parliament with a separation of the executive and legislative power. The Executive Council will no longer regulate itself via the Island Council because members of the Executive Council (members of the Council of Ministers) will not be members of Parliament.

Immigration is and has been a major source of concern to Richards. The immigration and naturalisation department will resort under the plans of approach. "We have to control immigration. We can't have people coming into our country that don't contribute to our economy," he said.

Stringent

According to Richards, St. Maarten should focus on attracting people with knowledge, not only from the Netherlands, but also from neighbouring islands. These people with education can help build country St. Maarten. The island should be as stringent as Aruba was when it became country in 1986 where it comes to immigration, he added.

More investment is needed in the social area, said Richards. Through the US$30 million buy-back deal of the harbour shares with the Netherlands, one of his personal highlights, investments were made in social projects, including the community centres. Those investments should continue. "We need to do more with the community councils, the districts. From within the district we should address problems such as youth unemployment, and youth crime."

Other issues that need urgent attention include sewage and water management. Richards had approached the internationally-renown water management institution UNESCO-IHE to help the island develop an integrated waste water management system. The institute from Delft is ready and willing to coordinate this project, but so far it hasn't been initiated. Richards would still like to see this project get off the ground. "The environment, the waterways and sewage issues have to be tackled."

Richards faced many challenges in his period as Lt. Governor, from September 12, 2000, to August 10, 2010. Because of the many caps that he wore, among others as Chairman of the Executive and Island Councils, Local Chief of Police, Representative of the Central Government, the Lt. Governor has a "sort of hybrid position," he said. "You have to stand above politics. It is a tough position."

Annulment

When the Executive Council or Island Council takes a decision that goes against the principles of good governance, it is the task of the Lt. Governor to send this decision to the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles for annulment.

Richards had to use this ultimate tool on one occasion: when the Executive Council granted Caravanserai a stand-alone casino licence. This decision was in violation of the government's casino policy. Within a month after Richards' departure, the current Executive Council decided to amend that casino policy, making it possible for Caravanserai which is now expanding to come into consideration for a casino permit. Member of Dutch Parliament Hero Brinkman of Party for Freedom PVV on Friday posed questions on the latest decision. (See related article)

As for the criticisms that he occasionally received, Richards said: "All those lies to obstruct me, they didn't work. I was able to contribute to good corporate governance and I feel good about that, even if that may have been a small share. It was an honour to serve the people."

As for his future plans now that he has reached the official pensionable age, Richards said he hopes to contribute to the island with his legal and financial background. He has established a consultancy company. Also, the Executive Council has proposed him as a member of the new Council for the Maintenance of Law and Order (Raad voor Rechtshandhaving).