WILLEMSTAD - The Advisory Council (RvA) advises not to agree with the Caribbean Organ for Reform and Development, the so-called COHO yet. The entity indicated this in their advice to the government. Curacao would still not have enough say according to the current package of agreements.
The Council also writes that they understand that Curacao had to make certain concessions in order to finalize the agreements with the Netherlands. The Netherlands offers extensive financial support, but in return wants the COHO control body, which must be laid down in a Kingdom Act.
In principle, the Curaçao government and parliament had already consented to the agreements for the Kingdom Act.
The RvA did indicate that compared to the original proposal of the COHO Kingdom Act, 'it is evident that the principle of promoting ownership as much as possible has been considered'.
Various amendments have been made to the present draft Act. "The RvA assumes that in the negotiation process that took place in the past period, (political) considerations have been made, taking into account the various interests at stake."
The outcome of the negotiations is reflected in the new proposal.
According to the Explanatory Memorandum (MvT), where the powers of the COHO and other bodies referred to in the Bill of Rights affect the autonomy of the Caribbean countries, these powers are considered necessary to achieve the purpose of the Bill of Rights and are such designed so that the impact on autonomy is as small as possible.
"The Council notes that this principle has not always been followed in the proposal for a Kingdom Act and that a fully-fledged motivation has not always been given in the MvT."
The RvA has previously pointed out that when limiting the powers or room for maneuver of the government and the Parliament of Curaçao, it is important for the assessment of the impact on autonomy to weigh up: "Between what is, the extent to which that happens (the loss) and what is in return (the gain).”
The Coho is important to continue to be eligible for the substantial liquidity support from the Netherlands; without that financial support, the Curaçao government can hardly or cannot function.