WILLEMSTAD - -Curaçao Governor Frits Goedgedrag has asked former PNP-commissioner Eduardo "Dito" Mendes de Gouveia to explore the short-term formation of an interim cabinet with a small team of ministers and supported by a majority of Parliament members.

 

The "formateur" is to report his findings on Friday at the latest. The interim cabinet must re-establish calm on the island and in the relations with other partners of the Dutch Kingdom, as well as initiate measures that lead to restoring financial and economic confidence in Curaçao, within and outside of the Kingdom.

 

Other policy instructions include preparing the October 19 parliamentary elections and taking the necessary steps to ensure an orderly process of screening candidate public administrators afterward.

 

The decision comes as the result of a letter from parliamentarian Anthony Godett (FOL) accompanied by motions of no-confidence adopted by a majority of the members against the already resigned ministers of the MFK/PS/MAN government, plus a motion asking the governor to task someone with preparing the formation of an interim cabinet. Goegedrag

 

subsequently held orientation consultations with vice chairman of the Advisory Council (officially chaired by the governor) Carl Gruning, parliamentarians Ivar Asjes (PS) and Dean Rozier (independent; formerly MFK), the various fraction leaders and outgoing Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte (MFK).

 

Based on the result of those talks and advice received and based on the request of a majority he asked Mendes de Gouveiva to look into the possibilities.

 

In a first reaction, Wiels called Goedgedrag's decision completely illegal. "This is based on nothing and goes back on the national decree the governor himself signed earlier to give the government caretaker status, dissolve parliament and call elections."

 

The PS-leader thinks it has to do with the most recent poll of UDC/Key Research indicating that "the party of The Netherlands" PAR will lose votes heavily. "That was the reason for the Dutch to make a move. They want to control the Main Voting Bureau and get the portfolio of the Minister of Justice to act when we rise up. And they will get that, because we won't accept this. We are hitting the streets."

 

Godett, who was named vice chairman of Parliament by the "new majority," is satisfied that the governor "has listened to the voice of the people. We are glad the governor has also taken steps to break the impasse between the legislature and government. It involves a parliament and government that have long since lost their majority."

 

The FOL-leader is not impressed by Wiels' statements. "It shows the totalitarian nature of persons who don't want to respect the wishes of the majority. After he attacked our women, bishop and priests he is now going after the governor."

 

Godett expressed the hope that should there be any disturbance, the relevant authorities "will assume their responsibility."

 

Vrijdag moet hij de gouverneur informeren of er een interim-kabinet kan worden geformeerd dat bestaat uit een klein aantal ministers.

 

Curaçao heeft momenteel een demissionaire regering en gaat op 19 oktober naar de stembus voor een nieuw parlement. Toch heeft een meerderheid van de volksvertegenwoordigers op 14 september aan de gouverneur gevraagd een interim-kabinet in te stellen. Goedgedrag heeft de afgelopen dagen hierover overleg gevoerd.

 

De benoeming van een formateur is omstreden, omdat het huidige demissionaire kabinet van Gerrit Schotte weigert plaats te maken voor een interim-kabinet.

 

Tot de belangrijkste taken van de interim-regering zouden moeten behoren het terubrengen van bestuurlijke rust en goede banden binnen het Koninkrijk en het herstellen van het democratisch bestel. Ook moet de regering volgens de gouverneur "maatregelen initiëren die leiden tot een herstel van het financieel en economisch vertrouwen in Curaçao''.