WILLEMSTAD - All members of the Curaçao parliament have requested the government to continue the path of renegotiations with the other governments of the Kingdom regarding to COHO Kingdom Act. This was adopted in a motion presented by the coalition partner MFK.
This specifically concerns the 'points of attention' in connection with the bill proposal. Those points for attention are listed in the same motion and mainly concern the excessive influence, in the view of the Curaçao parliament, of the Dutch Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the Caribbean Body for Reforms and Development (COHO).
Furthermore, one of the points for attention is that in connection with COHO 'a predefined framework of financial investments', necessary to guarantee the economic development of Curaçao, is missing.
The motion is unique if only because it not only has the support of both government factions (MFK and PNP), together good for a majority, but also of the complete opposition (PAR, MAN as well as the one-man factions KEM and TPK).
The motion starts with the consideration that Curaçao received 911 million guilders in liquidity loans during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. But then immediately notes that according to the Council of State (in the first advisory round) various elements in the proposed COHO law affect the autonomy of Curaçao; and that the Advisory Council of Curaçao also indicated on August 24, 2021 that COHO is "at odds with the Charter".
The 21 Members of Parliament also consider that the bill has 'so far caused a lot of consternation in our community'. And that Curaçao must comply with the agreed reforms and its responsibilities.
The 'points of attention' on which the coalition and opposition agree concern matters such as COHO's seat, namely in The Hague, which, according to the motion, makes it possible for the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations to adopt policy for COHO based on the ZBO Act (independent administrative body). The Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations can give instructions to the body regarding subjects that will be placed on the Implementation Agenda, including the multi-year budget.
The same Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations appoints the bureau charged with the recruitment of COHO members, so that the minister can influence the selection. There is also (still) missing a decision that representatives of the islands are part of COHO; only people with an affinity with the Caribbean countries are mentioned.
With regard to the instruction to the Curaçao government to continue the 'renegotiation process', reference is made to an article in both the Curaçao Constitution and the Dutch Constitution, namely article 84: “As long as a bill submitted by or on behalf of the King, if it has not been adopted by the House of Representatives or the joint assembly, it may be amended by it, on the proposal of one or more members, and on behalf of the government.” Or Article 78 of the Constitution: "As long as a draft national ordinance submitted by the government has not been approved by Parliament, it can be amended by them, on the proposal of one or more members, and by the government".