Henk Kamp (VVD) becomes BES representative for the Kingdom

October 16, 2008 7:12 AM

VVD-Parliament-member Henk Kamp (56) becomes representative for the Kingdom for the BES-islands Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. Reliable sources in The Hague have confirmed this message of BNR Newsradio to press agent ANP today.

Kamp is a surprising choice. He often argued for a strict approach of Antillean high-risk youngsters. He is of the opinion that problems with problem youngsters must be solved in the Antilles self. Young persons from the Antilles and Aruba that exceed the limit must go back, according to him.
The position of representative for the Kingdom for the BES-islands can be compared with a Governor. A person with this position in the Netherlands, functions as intermediary between municipalities and the government for the Kingdom. “Due to the big distance with the Netherlands, an extension of the Kingdom ought to be established in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom; a government body with a direct authoritarian relation with the minister of Home Affairs”, said state secretary Ank Bijleveld-Schouten (Kingdom Relations, CDA) in a letter to the standing committee for the Netherlands Antillean and Aruban Affairs (Naaz) in February.

Bijleveld already called commissioner of Political Structure in Saba, Chris Johnson, and informed him of the appointment. “I don’t know Kamp personally, but I have heard that he is an energetic, no-nonsense person. That’s exactly what Saba needs.” Jopi Abraham of the Bonerian opposition party PDB says that as it is now, the representative for the Kingdom ‘receives much and far-reaching authorities’. “The function as is interpreted now, is not acceptable for us.”

It is not sure whether the term Representative for the Kingdom will stay, but will be maintained for now. The Representative for the Kingdom is appointed by royal decree, on the recommendation of the minister of Home Affairs.

Before a Representative for the Kingdom is (re)appointed, the minister requests the public corporations to say how they feel about it. The Representative for the Kingdom is subordinate to the minister of Home Affairs and reports to him/her. The minister can give the Representative for the Kingdom instructions. Decisions of the Representative for the kingdom can be suspended and annulled by the minister of Home Affairs, whether requested by the BC or not.
The Representative for the Kingdom will be assisted by an official organization (cabinet). Direct contacts between the public corporations and ministers remain possible.

Among others, the Representative for the Kingdom must see to a good cooperation between the public corporations and point out bottlenecks in the cooperation with Curacao and St. Maarten.
He advices the Dutch government, whether asked or not. He will also visit the islands periodically and reports special findings to the minister of Home Affairs.
Bijleveld says that the representative for the Kingdom can also be charged with the following duties: supervise the public corporations’ implementations of the Kingdom’s instructions; hand regulations and decision of officials of the public corporations that are in breach of the law or the general interest, for suspension or annulment; draw up a recommendation for the appointment of lt. governors and a proposal to re-appoint lt. governors; approve decision to appoint and promote island civil servants; approve decisions of the BC for public corporations to establish or participate in private corporations; grant exemption of rules regarding the incompatibility of functions with the civil service and banned handlings. Other duties or authorities can be assigned to the representative for the Kingdom as well.

(Source: National newspaper Amigoe)

14 October, 2008