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PHILIPSBURG--The Dutch and St. Maarten Governments will seek "common ground" on the implementation of measures to ensure integrity of public servants and politicians.

Technocrats on both sides of the ocean will have a video conference later this week to try to connect areas in the ordinance and the areas outlined in the kingdom regulation containing general measures related to integrity.

Following the work of the technocrats, officials of both governments will review the results with the HOPE of coming to a solid agreement.

"We will see how we can probably merge the two of them or fit the two of them. [We need – Ed.] to find common ground; [get – Ed.] one common document," said St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs in a joint press conference with Dutch Minister for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk in Dr. A.C. Wathey Legislative Hall on Monday.

St. Maarten has a draft ordinance, but the Netherlands "wants to see some things worded differently," as does St. Maarten, said Gumbs.

Plasterk said, "We fully agree that anyone who works in the public service or be it a politician, if he or she takes a decision it should be clear that that's taken in the public interest and only with an eye on the public interest."

Conflicts of interest should be avoided, he said. He is aware that "the smaller the country, the more difficult it is ensure that. All the more reason to pay attention to that, as it ensures the integrity of government at the end of the day and also in the kingdom."

A "mutually acceptable" solution to integrity issues will be sought.

The governments of St. Maarten and the Netherlands have decided to contribute to the discussion on the establishment of a dispute committee to handle conflicts that may arise among kingdom partners.

Gumbs said the Parliaments of the kingdom had been discussing the development of a format to handle the disputes. These discussions have been ongoing with intensity since 2013. "Government agreeing to join that effort is a positive," he said.

Plasterk will talk with Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes on Thursday about joining and sharing ideas on the way forward with the dispute regulation.

The dispute regulation is part of the Kingdom Charter. "It is obligatory that there should be one and there isn't one. The reason for that is that there has been a dispute on how to get the dispute regulation figured out. As governments, we should find a way to solve that," said Plasterk.

Asked for his view on United People's (UP) party Member of Parliament Silvio Matser staying in Parliament after his court sentence for tax evasion earlier this month and how that corresponded with the drive for integrity improvements, Plasterk said his role as a kingdom minister was to ensure there is proper regulation in place. "I am certainly not the person to comment on individual cases," he said.

Gumbs said, "I believe we should not mix the executive branch with the legislative branch. ... I know it was discussed in the circles of Parliament. I would assume and I would encourage Parliament and all the Members of Parliament to take a serious look at that to take whatever necessary decision needs to be taken for the best image of Parliament and the country."

Plasterk has gathered from his meeting with Parliament, also on Monday, that there is a drive to discuss the draft 2015 budget "seriously and soon as possible." The budget handling in Parliament is scheduled to start on Thursday.

Finance Minister Martin Hassink has indicated he wants "to collaborate with the Netherlands" on several issues involving expertise in finance and taxes. "We will take that back [to the Netherlands – Ed.] and see how we can achieve such a collaboration," said Plasterk.

St. Maarten has made strides in bettering its finances. When asked what significant improvement he had seen here since the attainment of country status in 2010, Plasterk immediately pointed to financial management. That would have been a main topic in the past, but the government officials hardly mentioned financial issues at the press conference.

"I really admire the way Minister Hassink has been dealing and is still dealing with this difficult issue. I will give him all the support that we can. This is one case where we can clearly see progress," Plasterk said.

Combating international crime also was discussed. This is a "big concern" to everyone in the kingdom, Plasterk said. The justice ministers of the kingdom agreed recently to come up by March 1 with a plan for the entire Justice system to tackle international crime.