THE HAGUE - The Council of State of the Kingdom is critical of the way in which the Netherlands (with the consent of the CAS countries) believes it can prevent conflicts of interest between the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO) and the Financial Supervision Board (CFT). This is evident from documents; including the COHO Kingdom Act; that State Secretary Van Huffelen (BZK) sent today to the Second Chamber of the Dutch parliament and the Parliaments of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.
The criticism of the Council of State has not led to an amendment of the COHO Consensus Kingdom Act in all respects. For example, the governments of the countries are concerned that the Kingdom Council of Ministers will play too big a role and thus take over the 'problem ownership' of the CAS countries.
After a debate with their own government, the individual parliaments are now only given the opportunity to comment in writing on the Kingdom Act and to ask questions, which are also answered in writing. This is followed by the concluding debate in the Dutch Second Chamber to which the CAS countries, via special delegates; can participate. They can submit motions and amendments, but are not allowed to vote. The latter is then up to the Dutch Senate.