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July 11, 2008
bron The Daily Herald
The Island Council of Saba has ratified the "decision list" of the third BES
week that was agreed on in the Netherlands on June 18. During the public debate in
the Island Council last week Tuesday, Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Chris
Johnson gave a detailed rundown of the recently concluded talks in the Netherlands
during which the BES delegations visited several ministries and exchanged ideas on
several issues pertaining to the BES islands and ways in which the Dutch Government
was willing to assist the islands in achieving their new status.
Johnson said the
discussions had been very fruitful for the islands. "I was very impressed with the
discussions and at the end of the day I must say that the Dutch government has lived
up to the commitments that were made," he told the meeting. He said that at the end
of the day, the delegations believed that they had accomplished their goals "and as
BES islands we have returned back home very optimistic." "The Dutch Government has
agreed to assist the islands and they have agreed to even pay off our debts for 2006
and 2007. For the coming two years we will be receiving extra monies in order for us
to start carrying out several things in the areas of education, health care, youth
and family care and safety. When we count it all up the islands will be receiving
over NAf. 135 million," Johnson explained. He continued: "All in all, I am very
optimistic with the results that we have achieved at the third BES week and it is
now left up to the islands to become proactive. I am encouraged by the commitments
and Holland has now shown that they are our true allies." He said the Dutch
Government had also agreed to establish an offi ce on each of the three BES islands
immediately after the Round Table Conference scheduled to be held on December 15. He
said that with the establishment of the offi ces on BES islands "we will be able to
achieve much for the islands. At least we will have a direct link within the Dutch
Government."
Johnson also informed the council that the decision list was being
translated into English, Spanish and Papiamentu and that as soon as he received them
he would be distributing them throughout the community, because every citizen should
have a copy of the document detailing what had been achieved in the Netherlands. The
motion which was tabled by Johnson calling for the adoption of the decision list was
approved, with all three members of the council who were in attendance voting for
it. Island Council members Bruce Zagers and Akilah Levenstone were absent with
notice.
Members of the Saba delegation who attended the third BES week were Johnson,
Levenstone, Island Secretary Menno van der Velde and advisor to the Executive
Council Will Johnson.
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