Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs (NA) is obviously “none too pleased” with the sending of an adjusted petition to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance as well as the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent (see related story). It was done on behalf of Parliament, but according to her without consulting the Constitutional Affairs Committee, the – other – elected representatives or government.
She said these actions can be seen as counterproductive especially in this “new era” of better relations being forged with recently appointed Dutch State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Alexandra van Huffelen. Jacobs also mentioned a still forthcoming comprehensive multi-annual plan on the issue to be submitted for government’s review as per the June 30, 2019, related motion by current President of Parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten (UP).
By calling this latest move “highly premature” and asking for it to be rectified, the prime minister and NA leader is in effect drawing a proverbial line in the sand. The latter could have consequences for the governing NA/UP coalition, particularly because UP faction leader Rolando Bryson has been directly involved from the beginning in approaching the UN to blame the Netherlands for neo-colonialism, racism and discrimination.
While there exists a “trias politica” separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judiciary branches, it does not make much sense when a Council of Ministers and part of the majority backing it in Parliament work in completely different directions. The Jacobs II Cabinet is busy improving ties with The Hague to continue its assistance in St. Maarten’s recovery from the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis, but some of UP’s legislative representatives appear to be headed the exact opposite way by trying to get back on the UN decolonisation list and – ultimately – out of the kingdom.
NA currently has five seats, UP four, PFP two and UD and USP one each. There are also two independent members. This means a new NA-led government with other partners that seemingly agree more with what particularly the prime minister and finance minister have been doing is not impossible.
Replacing UP with – for example – PFP and UD would entail a minimal majority of eight in the 15-seat house. It’s one thing to have varying opinions within a coalition, but noses need to – at the very least – be pointed the same way.
