Curaçao task transfer to start March 15

March 01, 2010 6:44 AM

The dismantling of the Country Netherlands Antilles and the realisation of the new Country Curaçao will continue, despite the uncertainty as to whether the constitutional changes will go into effect on October 10, 2010, in light of the fall of the Dutch cabinet.

The first part of the tasks will be transferred from the Central Government to Curaçao (currently still Island Territory) on March 15. Tasks to be transferred include those in the areas of Transport and Communication, Education, Finance, Economic Affairs and Public Health. The available corresponding officials will also be transferred.

The budgetary means for the transferred tasks will be made available as well, so that the new implementation of tasks will not be a burden on Curaçao's budget.

For the time being, it remains uncertain whether 10-10-10 is feasible for the constitutional change. However, Commissioner of Constitutional Affairs Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR) remains positive that it is possible.

In any case, the Dutch Parliament's Second Chamber should not declare part of the consensus Kingdom Laws controversial. The problem is, if the relevant Kingdom Charter that makes the laws official cannot be handled, the Island Council cannot approve the draft Constitution of Curaçao.

"Even if it would take a while before we acquired the new status, there would be no problem with regard to the functioning of Curaçao. It will not become chaotic. We can continue to implement all tasks and serve the population," Jesus-Leito explained.

She was commenting on the question whether any delay would endanger the functioning of Curaçao. However, she does not consider it an obstacle if, in that case, the commissioners will have to manage additional job responsibilities for a longer period.

The officials involved will be informed on March 10 about what to expect, their position and with whom they will be working. The tasks will be transferred to the Island Territory, but the department will operate in the same manner as was previously the case. For example, tasks that are currently under Antillean Minister of Education's Omayra Leeflang's (PAR), jurisdiction will end up with Education Commissioner Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé (PAR). The same procedure will apply to the officials.

The expectation is that the joining of the Central Government and the Island Territory may cause some friction in the beginning. For example, there can only be one supervisor per department. In principle, all officials of the Central Government already working in Curaçao will be transferred to the Island Territory and to the new country at a later time. Only a few officials, who have been deployed in Willemstad from another island, may decide whether they will remain in the country or return to their island.

According to the commissioner, this should not be a problem, as the matter only pertains to a few persons. A central administrative centre has been set up to coordinate the transfer, which will be managed by Head of Personnel of the Island Territory Rignald Mambre.

(Source: National newspaper Amigoe)

26 February 2010