PHILIPSBURG--A number of groups in St. Maarten have sent a letter requesting a meeting with the Dutch Parliamentary delegation that will be visiting the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles in early January for the Inter-Parliamentary Consultation on Kingdom Relations.
The request letter dated December 28 was addressed to Dutch Parliamentary delegation Chairman Brigitte van den Burg and the First Chamber's Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations Chairwoman Marijke Linthorst. It was sent via President of the Parliament of St. Maarten Gracita Arrindell.
The letter was signed by six unions in St. Maarten, the Windward Islands Chamber of Labour Unions (WICLU), the St. Maarten Seniors and Pensioners Association and Burning Bridges Foundation.
WICLU representative Claire Elshot told reporters at the Chamber's weekly press briefing on Thursday that these "social partners" wanted to have a hearing with the delegation to give the members an insight into the issues affecting workers and residents in St. Maarten. She said that as no one else was listening to these groups, they wanted a hearing with the delegation.
Elshot said the groups that signed the request letter had learnt from media reports that the delegation would be having a meet-and-greet with the people on some of the islands where they would be hearing from the people.
Second Chamber member Cynthia Ortega-Martijn had said that not only a selected few would be invited to the public meetings in the Caribbean part of the Netherlands and that people with complaints and critical questions should not be kept out.
Linthorst had assured that this would not be the case. "We want to hear the real story. That is why the meet-and-greets have an informal part where people can speak their minds," Linthorst had said in the earlier reports.
The Inter-Parliamentary Consultation will be held in Philipsburg from January 10 to 14. The exact programme is expected to be organised by St. Maarten. The Dutch delegation wants to meet with St. Maarten organisations on Saturday before returning to the Netherlands on Sunday. In St. Maarten, meetings have also been planned with the Governor, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers and Parliament.
The delegation will visit the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) on January 7, partly on Ortega-Martijn's request. On that same day, the delegation will hold talks with the different judicial authorities to discuss the increased crime situation in St. Maarten.
The 14-day visit of the Dutch delegation to the former Netherlands Antilles and Aruba starts in Cura�ao on January 2, where it will attend the Governor's traditional New Year's reception. The next day, the group will have talks with the Prime Minister and Parliament, among others, and will visit the Cura�ao prison.
Several Members of the Dutch Parliament indicated that they would make individual appointments with organisations and citizens. Some will meet with education professionals because they are concerned about education in Cura�ao.
The delegation will go to Aruba on January 4, to be informed about the strategic cooperation activities with the Netherlands. They will visit the branch of the Dutch research bureau TNO as well as Reina Beatrix Airport, which is managed partly by Schiphol Airport.
The delegation will be in Bonaire on January 5 for a working visit to the energy companies WEB and Ecopower, which are in conflict about the supply of electricity, causing many blackouts on the island. There also will be a meeting with health care institutions and a meet-and-greet with the people.
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