SXMElections.com

PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs announced on Wednesday that the slavery path discussions continue in the Netherlands. On Thursday St. Maartens Minister of Plenipotentiary Minister Rene Violenus will participate in the discussions, while two other persons from St. Maarten participated in the discussions held in Curacao.
Jacobs said that she already indicated in writing to the Ministry of BZK and also in person to the State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen that St. Maarten did not participate in the discussions in the very inception. Jacobs said that while she is aware that the Netherlands intends to make a statement on December 19th, 2022.
The Prime Minister of St. Maarten said that she commended the efforts that are now being made to hold discussions with St. Maarten on the impact of slavery however, St. Maarten was not involved in the discussions that took place with the dialogue group as such St. Maarten is in the process of setting up an advisory committee which will be for slavery, atonement, and reparations. Jacobs said there is a 10-point action plan put in place by Caricom which will form the basis of the discussions moving forward.
Jacobs further explained that she was informed that a representative from the Dutch government will be visiting St. Maarten. She said while she was told that this is just the beginning of the process and that the Dutch government is waiting on an official response from St. Maarten she does not believe the representative of the Dutch government that will be visiting St. Maarten will just be translating the statements that will be made by the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Jacobs said that the committee that is being set up by the government of St. Maarten will be meeting with stakeholders while she would be inviting the Dutch representative to hear exactly what they have to say. The Prime Minister said after this the stakeholders will be given the opportunity to access the statements and or apology to determine their value and sincerity and if it addresses the point St. Maarten sees as important.
St. Maartens Prime Minister made clear that she is of the opinion that discussions must be had within the communities and also in parliament before a response is given She said it is not so that a statement made to say that the atrocity of slavery is a crime against humanity, and we apologize with a check of 250M cannot be the case, however, she does believe that as a country everyone must wait and see what the contents of the statement or apology will before an answer is given.