Dear Editor,
I recently read a news post about my bill on your webpages. The post was an integral take-over from the Curaçao Chronicle written by Rene Zwart. The piece is full of incorrect information.
According to Zwart will this bill make it “easier for the Netherlands to end the kingdom relation … .” The absolute opposite is true. By making the decision a landsbesluit and not a Kingdom charter decision, the Netherlands has absolutely no say in the whole process. Therefore, it will be truly a decision by the people of the countries. The Netherlands will have less say.
Also stated was that that I took out the referendum. If people read the law carefully, they will understand that the Netherlands does not impose the way of decision-making upon the islands. How they want to organize the way of a possible ending of the relationship is totally up to the countries. Each country could and maybe should have a different way of ending the relationship with the Kingdom. Therefore, there should be no dictated way in the Kingdom Charter.
Mr. Zwart also stated that there have been mainly negative reactions from the Caribbean parts. During the IPKO I was available for consultation during a special event but no Statenleden of the other countries showed up. In my talks during the IPKO people had no comments about my law.
And finally, I do not know if in Belgium people are discussing my law, but in the Netherlands, people are just waiting for my proposal to be launched.
But to be against my proposal would be strange for the Caribbean countries, because they have asked for this amendment themselves. And for the Netherlands, it would almost be colonial to deny more freedom of choice for the Caribbean countries.
I hope that I have informed you enough, otherwise just mail me or call me.
André Bosman
Member of Dutch Parliament
