THE HAGUE – Dutch Government parties VVD and CDA find it surprising that politicians in Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten have responded so “triumphantly” to the exchange of the Kingdom Act Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO) for a mutual arrangement because they thereby relinquish their control over the agreements that their governments will make with the Netherlands.
THE HAGUE
– Dutch Government parties VVD and CDA find it surprising that politicians in Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten have responded so “triumphantly” to the exchange of the Kingdom Act Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO) for a mutual arrangement because they thereby relinquish their control over the agreements that their governments will make with the Netherlands.
Members of the House of Representatives Roelien Kamminga (VVD) and Joba van den Berg (CDA) recalled in a committee debate that an important objection of the Parliaments of the CAS countries to the COHO Act was precisely that they were insufficiently involved in its creation. In a mutual arrangement, there is no such involvement at all, State Secretary Van Huffelen agreed. After the signature by the governments, the State Secretary will send the regulation to the House for information.
Members of the House of Representatives Roelien Kamminga (VVD) and Joba van den Berg (CDA) recalled in a committee debate that an important objection of the Parliaments of the CAS countries to the COHO Act was precisely that they were insufficiently involved in its creation. In a mutual arrangement, there is no such involvement at all, State Secretary Van Huffelen agreed. After the signature by the governments, the State Secretary will send the regulation to the House for information.
VVD and CDA saw a second advantage in COHO from a Caribbean perspective: that was an independent body that would not only monitor whether the countries adhered to the agreements when implementing the country packages, but also kept the Netherlands on its toes. The place of COHO, which would come under independent management, is taken over by the existing Temporary Work Organization, which is directly managed by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
VVD and CDA saw a second advantage in COHO from a Caribbean perspective: that was an independent body that would not only monitor whether the countries adhered to the agreements when implementing the country packages, but also kept the Netherlands on its toes. The place of COHO, which would come under independent management, is taken over by the existing Temporary Work Organization, which is directly managed by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.
A third disadvantage of the loss of independent oversight that was mentioned is the potential risk of litigation. “We will do the supervision together and if we do not agree on something, we will bring someone in who can solve it,” says Van Huffelen. Later in the debate, she acknowledged that the last word remains with the Netherlands: if a country does not comply with the agreements, funding can be stopped.
A third disadvantage of the loss of independent oversight that was mentioned is the potential risk of litigation. “We will do the supervision together and if we do not agree on something, we will bring someone in who can solve it,” says Van Huffelen. Later in the debate, she acknowledged that the last word remains with the Netherlands: if a country does not comply with the agreements, funding can be stopped.
The mutual schemes will have a term of 4 years, with the option of extending each time by 2 years. A country cannot terminate the scheme prematurely if The Hague does not agree. Despite the feeling of “inconvenience”, VVD and CDA give their blessing to the repeal of the COHO law. Jorien Wuite (D66) and Kauthar Bouchallikh (GroenLinks and also speaking on behalf of the PvdA and BIJ1) had no objection in any case: they think a mutual arrangement shows equality.
The mutual schemes will have a term of 4 years, with the option of extending each time by 2 years. A country cannot terminate the scheme prematurely if The Hague does not agree. Despite the feeling of “inconvenience”, VVD and CDA give their blessing to the repeal of the COHO law. Jorien Wuite (D66) and Kauthar Bouchallikh (GroenLinks and also speaking on behalf of the PvdA and BIJ1) had no objection in any case: they think a mutual arrangement shows equality.
COHO may be off the table, but the draft Kingdom Act Aruba Financial Supervision (RAft) is by no means. The Aruban government has so far succeeded in delaying the parliamentary treatment, but that could turn against the country. Official consultations will start next month on the conditions under which the liquidity support provided during the corona crisis must be repaid. Without a RAft set by the Parliament of Aruba, the borrowed 900 million guilders will have to be repaid in one go in October.
COHO may be off the table, but the draft Kingdom Act Aruba Financial Supervision (RAft) is by no means. The Aruban government has so far succeeded in delaying the parliamentary treatment, but that could turn against the country. Official consultations will start next month on the conditions under which the liquidity support provided during the corona crisis must be repaid. Without a RAft set by the Parliament of Aruba, the borrowed 900 million guilders will have to be repaid in one go in October.
https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/dutch-mps-surprised-by-politicians-in-cas-countries-about-scrapping-coho/
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