PHILIPSBURG--The value of citizens and the role of the high councils of state and government were among the numerous areas outgoing Vice President of the Kingdom Council of State Herman Tjeenk Willink elaborated on during what was described as a well-received presentation in a meeting of the Central Committee of Parliament on Monday.
The meeting was held to bid farewell to Willink, who retires in January 2012, when he reaches the age of 70. Willink also delivered a farewell presentation at University of St. Martin (USM) about the role of the Kingdom Council of State on Monday evening.
One of the issues about which Willink spoke during yesterday's session of the Central Committee was the value of citizens. He said the citizen too often was seen merely as a voter, but he stressed that a citizen was more. "[He or she is, ed.] not an object or the client of the government, but a stakeholder with rights and responsibilities. The government and its citizens depend on each other," Willink told MPs.
Cooperation
Willink said a country attained maturity not at the moment its constitution and legislation were in order and its institutions ? individually or together ? functioned effectively.
"A country reaches adulthood when it manages and involves its people in resolving concrete social problems and gives them the feeling that they have control over their lives. This is the only way of contributing to the wellbeing of inhabitants of this unique island. You play a crucial role in encouraging this involvement," he told MPs. "You are, after all, the people's representatives. They have to be able to trust you."
St. Maarten, he noted, is "working hard" to establish itself as a country. This, he added, can only be achieved by working with others.
"St. Maarten is an autonomous country within the Kingdom. If you think the Kingdom in the present form is too Dutch, I would be the first to agree.
"But it would help if St. Maarten were willing to invest in the Kingdom itself, to ensure that the Minister Plenipotentiary in The Hague has the scope and support to cogently articulate St. Maarten's point of view in the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom even more than is now the case, to insist on the establishment of a more inclusive Kingdom secretariat, not under the authority of the Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, but under the wing of the chair of the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom and its Ministry of General Affairs.
"As the Parliament of St. Maarten, to enter into partnerships wherever possible with the States in General in The Hague (and I would recommend, biased as I am, that you pay particular attention to the Senate) and finally, to concentrate not only on formal consultations, but also on the informal exchange of information."
He said St. Maarten could help "change the colour of the kingdom" and make better use of Kingdom institutions. "Look to the local level in the Netherlands. Many times over the past few years, the Association of the Netherlands Municipalities VNG has shown itself to be a friend to St. Maarten, as have individual municipalities like Amsterdam. Are you taking advantage of the opportunities these friendships present?" he asked.
The Kingdom also offers opportunities at the central level. "Through the Kingdom you have representation in many countries around the world and a variety of international organisations like the European Union and UNESCO. Of course, you don't have to use all these representations ? politics also means setting priorities ? but let me mention just one: the Embassy of the Kingdom in Paris. It is there for St. Maarten as well. After all, you are the only country in the Kingdom that actually shares a border with the French Republic.
Cooperation with St. Martin
Willink said if there was one thing that had surprised him over the past few years it was the lack of cooperation with French St. Martin.
"In the Netherlands municipalities on our borders work very closely with their German or Belgian neighbours. Generally their cooperation relates to practical issues that benefit ordinary citizens on a daily basis. They do not wait for a green light from the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; these partnerships arise more or less spontaneously.
"Nothing is stopping St. Maarten from doing the same and you could take the initiative by stepping up contacts with the Parliament in Marigot and urging the executive branches on both sides to work together," he advised.
"In doing so, it is advisable to start small, gradually adding more complex matters to the agenda. Are there already good bus connections between the two sides? And what about allocation of taxis at the airport? Or are we going to wait for the enlargement of the airport in Marigot? Why not a joint programme (financed by the European Union) for the conservation of historic sites and the promotion of tourism?"
A country, Willink said, is not created with the flourish of a pen; a country is built slowly over time. "To form a country a lot more is needed than a charter, kingdom act, a constitution or national ordinances. A country's stability depends on robust institutions, a parliament and a government, of course, (the latter including an expert civil service) plus other independent institutions."
These, he said include the Court of Justice, the Constitutional Court and a Central Bank. There are also the Ombudsman, Audit Chamber and Advisory Council. These, Willink said, are elements of a system of checks and balances, without which a democratic legal order cannot exist.
He said it was important, especially in a country's early stages, to focus on strengthening institutions. He also mentioned the press, which informs the public about facts and opinions, and the university, a seat of both learning and research. He said at the heart of it all was the individual citizen.
Willink said the Kingdom Council of State had an "excellent" relationship with the Advisory Council in St. Maarten.
Building
Willink said many in The Hague had thought a year ago that the young country St. Maarten would fall through the ice quickly, but they did not know that St. Maarten knows more about building and reconstruction than most countries.
"I recall your response to the devastation of Hurricane Luis in 1995 when you got back up and running (with some help from the Netherlands) in no time at all. That was the Kingdom at its best," he said. "I sincerely hope that as an autonomous country, St. Maarten manages to move forward on its own steam, but I trust that St. Maarten also realises that it exists in an interdependent world. Partners will always be necessary to serve the interest of the island's people to your Advisory Council."
Willink was accompanied to the meeting of the Central Committee by a delegation that included his Secretary. Also attending the parliamentary meeting were Vice President of St. Maarten's Advisory Council Mavis Brooks-Salmon and St. Maarten Advisory Council member and Kingdom State Councillor for St. Maarten Dennis Richardson.
MPs present at the meeting were Chairwoman of Parliament Gracita Arrindell (UP); Roy Marlin and Leroy de Weever (DP); William Marlin, Dr. Lloyd Richardson, Hyacinth Richardson and George Pantophlet (NA); Dr. Ruth Douglass and Jules James (UP); and Patrick Illidge and Frans Richardson (independent).
A number of MPs thanked Willink for his enlightening presentation and for the issues he had raised at the meeting. Some urged him to return to St. Maarten, while others expressed interest in further discussions.
Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/22531-willink-citizens-are-stakeholders-.html
Milan Baros Economic policy Environmental sustainability Roberto Mancini JLS Protest
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