Asjes says parliament will make use of all its power

~ Concerning info on government NVs ~

WILLEMSTAD--Parliament will keep doing its work and will not be deterred by Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte's (MFK) proposition that it cannot receive direct information about the boards of directors and supervisory councils of government NVs, stated President of Parliament Ivar Asjes in a sharply-worded letter to Schotte sent by (PS).

In order to be able to do their work Parliament may obtain all information and inquiries it deems necessary, said Asjes. According to the prime minister this could only be done through the intervention of the responsible minister.

However, Asjes is pointing to the Rules of Order, which prescribe that parliamentary committees can decide to invite persons or organisations to provide additional information. Only in case of invitations to civil servants, the Rules of Order prescribe that these have to be done through the intervention of the responsible minister.

This has been arranged differently where boards and directors of government entities are concerned, according to parliament's president. "The accountability of these entities towards the minister leave unaffected that parliament, with the Rules of Order in hand, may invite these entities to obtain information and inquiries if such is deemed necessary," said Asjes.

Schotte's argument that government wants to respect the Corporate Governance Code does not convince Asjes. This code has nothing to do with Parliament's authority to obtain information, he stated. Parliament preserves the right to invite institutions and entities involved with public finance to provide information, Asjes stressed in his letter to Schotte.

Asjes warned the prime minister that in the case parliament where would not get sufficient respect or cooperation to its right of information or in controlling policies and acts of government, it could at all times decide to launch an inquiry.

Parliamentary inquiries are regulated in the National Ordinance General Audit Chamber Curaçao. Asjes states that this Audit Chamber has far-reaching authority where investigations into government entities are concerned.

"Parliament may also use its right to instigate an inquiry, during which in principle everybody is obligated to provide information to parliament, without the interference of others," said Asjes.

Source: http://www.thedailyherald.com/islands/1-islands-news/26711-asjes-says-parliament-will-make-use-of-all-its-power-.html

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