SXMElections.com

THE HAGUE--Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk wants to be sure that the independent position of the Integrity Chamber is entirely safeguarded. In his opinion, the current version of St. Maarten's national ordinance to establish the Integrity Chamber doesn't completely secure its independent position, because the ultimate responsibility lies with the St. Maarten Parliament.

"I fear that the independence is not entirely secured if it is anchored in a national ordinance, because the Parliament of St. Maarten will have the last say. I want to be sure that the Integrity Chamber can never be set aside, influenced or called back by Parliament," Plasterk said in an interview with The Daily Herald and the Dutch newspaper the Volkskrant on Thursday, the day of his return from his visit to the Windward Islands and Curaçao.

According to Plasterk, the integrity reports by the Wit-Samson Committee and PricewaterhouseCoopers have shown that integrity violations have reached the level of government. "Then it is not wise for the St. Maarten Parliament to have the last word, especially not if we as the Netherlands are willing to invest millions in the coming years in improving integrity in government," he said.

The minister said it was therefore better to put the Integrity Chamber "at some distance" from government and the influence of politics. He said the professionals of the Integrity Chamber needed to be "absolutely sure" that they could do their work without political intervention.

Plasterk wants to safeguard the Integrity Chamber through a so-called General Measure of Government ("Algemene Maatregel van Rijksbestuur" AMvRB). He preferred to do this based on consensus, with the approval of the St. Maarten Government. The AMvRB would be approved by the Kingdom Council of Ministers.

Plasterk said he was hopeful that the integrity issue would be solved with the St. Maarten Government in a mutual manner. "It would create much confidence if this matter were solved." He said that an agreement would also pave the way for assistance from the Netherlands, for example for the St. Maarten Tax Department.

During Plasterk's visit to St. Maarten, it was agreed that technocrats of both countries would continue to work on a solution. Plasterk didn't give a specific date, but he did say that there was certain urgency involved. "The sooner we get clarity on this issue, the better."

The minister was positive about St. Maarten's new Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs with whom he had extensive talks, both formal and informal, after his arrival on the island last Sunday. He said he had the impression that Gumbs wanted a solution as well, and that he strived for good relations in the Kingdom. "I met an open prime minister. I am under the impression that a new momentum is evolving in the relations with St. Maarten," he said.