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Prison Funding A Positive First Step, Says Van Dam

THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA is content with the allocation of thirty million euros by the Dutch government for the construction of a new prison and the improvement of detention facilities in St. Maarten.

Statia Government And Plp Refute Claims Of Support For SneekS Trip To Netherlands

From left: Island Councilmembers Koos Sneek (independent) and Adelka Spanner (Democratic Party), Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij, and Progressive Labour Party Councilmembers Rechelline Leerdam, Clyde van Putten and Reuben Merkman. (File photo)

Wuite Is Number 20 On Definitive D66 Slate

Jorien Wuite

THE HAGUE--Jorien Wuite from St. Maarten is number 20 on the definitive candidates list of the Dutch Read more

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Candidates in this article:

List Sneek Presents Its Action Plan 2020-2023

Nicolaas Koos Sneek

ST. EUSTATIUS--The recently formed List Sneek presented its action plan 2020-2023 to Government Commissioner in St. Eustatius Marnix van Rij. The one-man faction was formed after Island Councilman Nicolaas Koos Sneek resigned from the Democratic Party (DP) almost immediately after the Island Council election of October 21.

Enquiry About Status Of Talks With St. Maarten

THE HAGUE--The Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament has enquired about the status of talks with St. Maarten regarding the third tranche of liquidity support and the associated conditions.

  The question about the status of the talks was part of a series of remarks and questions the Committee sent to State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops this week in relation to the liquidity support for Aruba, Curaao and St Read more

Caribbean Netherlands: More Leeway, Less Poverty

The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament in session.

THE HAGUE--Parties that have published their election programme indicated that they want more manoeuvring space for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, but also more attention for the social minimum and poverty eradication.

We set a social minimum that secures a decent existence. Access to basic necessities such as medical care, drinking water and electricity are guaranteed, stated the green left party GroenLinks in its election programme Time for new realism.

The Labour Party PvdA wants the eradication of poverty to become a priority, and for rent and groceries to become affordable again Read more

Wuite To Run On D66 Slate

Former St. Maarten minister Jorien Wuite is running number 19 on the slate of the Dutch Democratic Party D66. She hopes to bring colour to the Second Chamber.

THE HAGUE--Former St. Maarten minister Read more

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Candidates in this article:

Spanner Wants End To Proxy Voting In Statia

Clockwise from left: State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, a member of his delegation, DP leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner and Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij.

ST. EUSTATIUS--Democratic Party (DP) leader and Island Council Member Adelka Spanner wants to see an end to proxy voting in St. Eustatius. She conveyed her sentiments on this during a meeting with Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops during his recent visit to St Read more

Parliament Supports Aid For Islands, Asks If It Is Enough

Second chamber (file picture)

THE HAGUE--The VVD, CDA, D66 and GroenLinks parties in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament are content with the financial support the Dutch government is giving Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, but wondered whether the assistance is sufficient.

While the parties stated it was good to see that there is active support for the governments, entrepreneurs and dismissed employees in the Caribbean Netherlands, they did have a number of questions for State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops Read more

St. Eustatius Island Council Discusses SneekS Decision

Clockwise from left: Clyde van Putten (PLP), Rechelline Leerdam (PLP), Reuben Merkman (PLP), civil servant Militza Connell-Maduro, Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij, Councilwoman Adelka Spanner (DP) and Councilman Nicolaas Koos Sneek (Independent).

~ Debates Sneeks request to call faction the new Democratic Party ~

ST. EUSTATIUS--The decision of newly-elected Island Councilman Nicolaas Koos Sneek declaring himself independent from the Democratic Party (DP) on whose slate he was elected was discussed during an extraordinary meeting of the Island Council at V.A Read more

Koos Sneek Leaves Dp And Declares Himself Independent

Nicolaas Koos Sneek (left) speaking at the installation ceremony of the Island Council of St. Eustatius on Thursday, October 29, with leader of the Democratic Party (DP) councilwoman Adelka Spanner (right).

ST. EUSTATIUS--Island Councilman Nicolaas Koos Sneek declared himself an independent member of the newly-elected Island Council of St. Eustatius on Friday, October Read more

Van Dam Wants Dutch-Appointed Prison Director

Member of the Second Chamber Chris van Dam of the CDA party. (File photo)

THE HAGUE--A Netherlands-appointed director should assume management at St. Maartens Pointe Blanche prison and prison management should be taken out of the hands of the St. Maarten Justice Minister, according to Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA.

He announced in an interview with The Daily Herald that he would relay this message during the handling of the 2021 Kingdom Relations budget in the Second Chamber on Tuesday Read more

Lack Of Dutch Caribbean Countries Input In Proposed Entity Pointed Out

~ Second Chamber worried about vulnerable groups ~

THE HAGUE--The Democratic Party D66, the green left party GroenLinks and the Labour Party PvdA in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament are concerned about the level of involvement that the governments and Parliaments of Aruba, Curaao and St. Maarten will have in the proposed Caribbean Reform Entity.

Majority Support For Motion To Take Over St. Maarten Prison

THE HAGUE--The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament on Tuesday adopted the motion of Christian Democratic Partys CDAs Chris van Dam which requests that the Kingdom Council of Ministers take control of St. Maartens Pointe Blanche prison for five years.

Knops Says Redress To Build New Prison Is Still Possible

Dutch Minister of Justice and Security Ferd Grapperhaus (left) talks with Members of the Second Chamber before the start of Mondays debate. From right: Andr Bosman (VVD), Attje Kuiken (PvdA), Antje Diertens (D66) and Chris van Dam (CDA). (Suzanne Koelega photo)

Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker (left) and State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops (second from right) at the start of Mondays debate in the Second Chamber about law enforcement. (Suzanne Koelega photo)

THE HAGUE--Dutch State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops is giving the St Read more

Newly appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau Julian Woodley (centre) with Deputy Government Commissioner Alida Francis (left) and Government Commissioner Marnix van Rij (right).

ST. EUSTATIUS--Former Acting Island Governor of St. Eustatius, former Member of Parliament (MP) of the Netherlands Antilles and former Island Councilmember for the Democratic Party (DP) Julian Woodley (68) was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau in the name of King Willem-Alexander by State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops on Thursday, April 23.

The ceremony took place in VincentA Read more

Solidarity Is A Two-Way Street, Says Mp Van Dam

THE HAGUE--Solidarity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands is a lovely principle, but it needs to be mutual and equally invested in by all partners, according to Member of the Second Camber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA.

One of the most beautiful articles in our Charter is article 36 which states that the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaao and St Read more

Parliament Requests Reports On Pointe Blanche Prison

THE HAGUE--Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and the Law Enforcement Council will be asked to provide an overview of the recommendations that have been made in the past years regarding the Pointe Blanche prison in St. Maarten.

The reviews are being requested by the Second Chambers Permanent Committee for Kingdom Relations on the initiative of Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA Read more

Van Dam Asks About StatiaS Mass Layoff

THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA is seeking clarity on the mass layoff at the St. Eustatius oil storage terminal.

Van Dam submitted written questions to Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management Cora van Nieuwenhuizen on Wednesday Read more

Van Dam: Ruling On Police Cells Reconfirms Unacceptable Situation

Chris van Dam (File photo)

THE HAGUE--The new slap on the wrist by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which again has declared the detention of a suspect in a holding cell of the Philipsburg police station objectionable, reconfirms the unacceptable situation in St. Maarten, according to Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic PartyRead more

Van Dam Has Deep Concerns About St. Maarten Police Cells

Chris van Dam

THE HAGUE--Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Chris van Dam of the Christian Democratic Party CDA has again expressed his deep concern about the conditions in the holding cells at the Philipsburg police station.

Van Dam on Thursday submitted a set of written questions to Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker about the December 17, 2019, decision by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to declare the detention of a detainee in a St Read more