Concerns about post-Oct. 10 issues at home 

PHILIPSBURG--Opposition Democratic Party (DP) is now focusing on what needs to happen and be done after 10-10-10, said DP leader Island Councilwoman Sarah Wescot-Williams, who heads to The Hague today, Tuesday, for the final Roundtable Conference (RTC).

Wescot-Williams will join Constitutional Affairs Commissioner William Marlin and the advisors already in the Netherlands for the round of talks pertaining to the change to country-within-the-Dutch-Kingdom status for St. Maarten and Curaçao.

Speaking at a party press conference Monday, she said she heads "confidently" to The Hague, because "everything that needed to be done has been completed" by St. Maarten, thanks to the groundwork DP had laid prior to leaving office when it lost its majority in June 2009, and the then opposition National Alliance (NA) entered office.

There is still a lot of concern about St. Maarten's readiness and ability to become a country being expressed by Dutch politicians. In spite of this, she is confident all will work in St. Maarten's favour to end the ten-year struggle for a new constitutional status.

This third and final RTC is to seal and ratify the decided-upon date for country status – October 10. The first RTC in 2005, held with Wescot-Williams as commissioner, set the parameters of how country status could be achieved. The second one in 2008 "clearly outlined" how much the entities of the soon-to-be former island territories of the Netherlands Antilles had achieved within the set parameters established three years earlier.

The 2008 RTC was a "watershed in the constitutional development" for St. Maarten, as the island was "given the green light" to move from the preparation phase for country status to focussing on implementations, completions of organic laws and the constitution and the build-up of vital institutions, such as the justice chain and financial management.

Wescot-Williams said, "We are now focusing on what will happen after 10-10-10. We are looking at October 11, working from a new parliament and forward. There is a lot of excitement for that day [October 10], but we have to see to the extra responsibilities in our lap.

"We need to be clear to the people of St. Maarten that on 10-10-10 there will be no magic change, because not much can and will change," Wescot-Williams said. Some of the last ties to the Antilles and the Central Government will continue for months and even years to come.

She said such an example is that Central Government civil servants will still be paid by that entity at the end of October; the Antillean Guilder will still continue to be the currency and some Antillean laws will still be applicable. "I know some people may not want to hear it, but we will be in something like a transition phase. Our people need to know the process."

A post-October 10 issue is the joint monetary system for the new countries St. Maarten and Curaçao, a decision that goes back to November 2006. The DP leader said governing is looking ahead, not about the past and today only.

From that perspective, DP, after first deciding on a joint currency and Central Bank, believes this decision should be revised with a leaning to dollarization to reflect the economic realities of today.

Although, the Island Council passed the ordinance on the joint currency and bank last week, there is still time to revisit the decision without harm to the economy, because it will not be until January 2012 that the Caribbean Guilder will come into circulation, she said.

Cashing in on the debt relief from the Dutch Government is another issue that needs to be addressed. The DP leader said it is unfortunate that St. Maarten has not been able to cash in and get its debt burden lessened, because the government has not been able to tap into the programme.

Many issues in the community that were once Central Government issues will be for St. Maarten's account come 10-10-10, such as the reorganisation of the police force.

Wescot-Williams also questioned why the NA-led coalition has "refused to deal with" the restructuring of the tariff for the utilities company, although the company has submitted a new tariff structure since April.

Similarly, DP has been questioning government on health care insurance and the Service Level Agreement being negotiated with Curaçao-based Social Insurance Bank SVB, but has not been receiving answers or information, she said.

"We tried from all angles to get clarity on the garbage contract," Wescot-Williams said, adding that the party believes government is playing politics with the issue instead of telling the collectors exactly what they plan.

Commenting on the NA claiming it has brought home country status, the DP leader said those who are claiming this "must really think that the people believe such an illusion. Country status, yes, but under what conditions [was this granted]...Too much is happening behind closed doors in that pink building - [Government Administration Building]."

DP Councilwoman Maria Buncamper-Molanus added, "At the end of the day it must be the people who feel most victorious and have an improved quality of life."