THE HAGUE - Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands have reached an agreement on submitting the proposal for the Kingdom Act of the Caribbean Agency for Reform and Development (COHO). This is reported by the Kingdom Office for the Caribbean Netherlands. The Kingdom Act forms the foundation for a new form of multi-year cooperation between the countries in the Kingdom.
The islands previously raised several concerns regarding the enforceability of the law within the constitutional legal order, including ensuring policy space and government autonomy. Also, the confluence between the Committee for Financial Supervision C(A)ft and COHO and the scope for investment to implement the reforms and policies. The Netherlands has promised to discuss this and make agreements.
The budget for the islands was discussed during the last Kingdom Council of Ministers. It was decided that the new budget could be submitted with a deficit. This week Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands reached a definitive agreement on the further elaboration of the Kingdom Act. "The latest changes in the treaty include clearer agreements with the countries about the processing of the country packages in the various budgets," according to the Kingdom Office.
The bill now goes to the parliaments of the Islands and the Second Chamber. Later, the Dutch Senate will also have their turn to discuss the process.