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PHILIPSBURG--St. Maarten Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs and Curaçao Prime Minister Ivar Asjes are committed to continuing good relations between the two Dutch Caribbean countries. Asjes is on a three-day working visit to St. Maarten that concludes today, Tuesday.
It is important to have and maintain good relations between kingdom partners, said Gumbs in a Press Secretariat release. He and Asjes discussed "some pending matters" affecting both countries, including the way forward with Economic Development Foundation SEO (an entity of the former Netherlands Antilles) and "support for St. Maarten regarding various integrity issues."
Asjes' preference is for the continuation of the Arikok meetings of the prime ministers of the Dutch Caribbean. St. Maarten is proposed as the host for the next meeting to foster closer ties and strengthen the working relationship.
Asjes said efforts were underway to strengthen the cooperation across various areas. "We are partners in the Kingdom, so we have to work together regarding current issues now playing in the Dutch Kingdom," he said.
Both prime ministers want to ensure that the rule of law is applied within the Dutch Kingdom.
"Curaçao supports the rule of law and we support the correct use of the Statute," Asjes said. His country is working on a proposal to present to Aruba and St. Maarten on the dispute arrangement.
Asjes met with Gumbs, Finance Minister Martin Hassink and Education Minister Rita Bourne-Gumbs. He also had a separate meeting with Governor Eugene Holiday and Parliament Chairman Dr. Lloyd Richardson on Monday.
Gumbs met with Curaçao Minister of Economic Affairs Stanley Palm on Sunday evening.
