Acting Government Commissioner Mervyn Stegers.
ST. EUSTATIUS--As agreed the Cooperative Platform held its regular scheduled monthly meeting with the Executive Council of St. Eustatius on Friday, May 25. The meeting was chaired by Acting Government Commissioner Mervyn Stegers in the absence of Commissioner Mike Franco who was off Island. The agenda highlighted transparency within local government, reaction to the draft study regarding the establishing of a social minimum on the individual islands of the Caribbean Netherlands and the establishing of indicators for the restoration of an elected Island Council.
The Cooperative Platform repeated its call for increased transparency with regard to the work of the Executive Council in the form of publication of decision. The Platform also reminded the Executive Council that as a result of the “current unique circumstance” the public is no longer privy to “traditional” forms of information regarding the affairs of government such as central committee meetings and Island Council meetings.
Stegers said the Executive Council was aware of this concern and is working on a new website where the public will be provided with information regarding government’s decisions and new ordinances.
With regard to the study to determine a social minimum for Statia the Platform presented the Council with a written response highlighting their areas of concern. Besides the fact that some of the core data attributed to the situation on Statia seemed to be inaccurate, the Platform was concerned about the emphasis the report placed on what they referred to as the “informal economy.”
Considering that these methods of alternative means of income could not be quantified the suggestions this create could leave a reader with the wrong impression regarding the alternative means of survival that may be required of some lower income families and the effects of these practices on the vulnerable families, the Platform stated.
Platform members further expressed their concern regarding the methodology applied to the study conducted in the islands as this differed from the approach to the establishing of the social minimum in the European Netherlands.
Regarding the next steps the Platform made several recommendations, including a call for additional social housing, job programmes and a social-support structure that would use the basic level of income, as established in the report, to ensure families of lower income a standard of living that is acceptable for a citizen residing within the Kingdom of The Netherlands.
While recommendations were not a part of the assignment the Platform explained that this should always be a part of the discourse to avoid the result of the study being tabled as just another report which does not yield any tangible results for the citizens who need it the most.
Regarding establishing indicators that could determine whether Statia is ready to once again resume the normal democratic electoral processes, Stegers indicated that this subject was part of an ongoing discussion with The Hague.
He reiterated that their assignment was to complete their task as soon as possible. However, establishing criteria to determine when this was achieved will take more time, he said.
It is also expected that the establishing of these indicators will include consultations with stakeholders on the island to ensure a smooth transition from the current temporary status.
Stegers explained that several concrete steps are being taken to prepare the civil core on all levels to function independently and assume their legal responsibilities with regard to the provision of services to the public in addition to their support of the Executive and Island Councils in the execution of their tasks.
