The unanimous passage of a 2024 budget amendment and three motions by Parliament (see Wednesday newspaper) is in principle good news. When all elected representatives on both sides of the proverbial aisle are able to agree, it gives an important yet regrettably relatively uncommon impression of unity.
The budget adjustment was obviously necessary so its figures approved still make sense. For one thing, income and cost were reduced by respectively 25- and 26 million Netherlands Antillean guilders, also to get required approval from the Committee for Financial Supervision CFT.
Of the three motions that enjoyed “wall-to-wall” support, two came from the National Alliance (NA) opposition faction, while the third was a joint initiative between a coalition and an opposition member. A fourth motion from the United People’s Party (UP party) opposition faction received 11 votes for and three against, which means several politicians from governing parties gave their blessings too.
Without going into the merits of each motion, it seems obvious that these were not politically-motivated but rather genuinely intended to serve the people’s general best interest. Don’t expect them all to be executed quickly, however.
Government must first weigh legal, financial, socioeconomic and other considerations to determine their feasibility. A legislative motion is little more than the expression of a majority’s desire to the executive branch.
Nevertheless, when broad-based like in these cases, the message becomes that much stronger.
