WILLEMSTAD - Achieving the objectives set forth in the Caribbean Organ for Reform and Development (COHO) and the Landspakket (Country Package) is "a task not to be underestimated" and "requires a huge commitment". This is according to the Advisory Council, which in this context asks the government of Curaçao to pay extra attention to the necessary 'implementation strength'.
In other words: does the Curaçao government have sufficient capacity to actually implement its share of COHO and Landspakket? This involves drawing up, elaborating and monitoring the agreed projects, programs and (reform) measures.
The proposal of the COHO Kingdom Act includes various consultation and consent obligations for the relevant National Bodies of Curaçao (the same also applies to the countries Aruba and Sint Maarten).
"It is necessary that Curaçao is aware that these consultation and consent obligations must be given a thorough substantive interpretation, as well as the efforts that must be made prior to this," according to the latest advice from the RvA. The advice has now been discussed (politically) quite a bit, but little attention has been paid to it in terms of content.
"This includes resources, expertise and manpower over a longer period of time, but also the will to work with others while perseverance should not be lacking," the council warns.
In an earlier advisory report on the COHO Kingdom Act, the first version of it, the RvA already pointed out on 21 December that the government should receive 'proper support from the relevant policy ministries' for optimal participation in the various consultation processes.
That advice also noted that the importance of optimal cooperation with COHO – ‘if necessary, via an internal awareness program among government services and public companies’ – is essential to increase the chance of achieving the goals.