THE HAGUE--The possibilities of individual membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the Dutch Caribbean countries will be looked at, as well as the development status of the islands so they might make use of facilities for developing countries.

 

That was one of the proposals that were made at Wednesday's Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultations, IPKO, which started off in The Hague. Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten are now a member of the WTO through the Netherlands, which means that the three countries can't make use of WTO funds and expertise because the Netherlands is considered a developed country.

 

Member of the Curaçao Parliament Alex Rosaria of the PAIS party said that the membership through the Netherlands presented obstacles for the islands. "We want to get more out of the opportunities of participating in international trade, but the Netherlands are not helpful in getting an individual membership of the WTO," he said.

 

According to Rosaria, there were advantages for the islands to be had if they would join the WTO as developing countries, since they could then make use of funds, expertise and trainings. Member of the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament Roelof van Laar of the Labour Party PvdA said the countries needed to carefully consider whether they wanted to have the status of a developing country, because this position also had disadvantages of being associated with poverty and poor development.

 

Member of the St. Maarten Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams of the DP party said she supported Rosaria's proposal and filed a request to make an inventory of the advantages of the status as a developing country.

 

"Too often we experience the disadvantage of being associated with the Netherlands which results in us being placed in the category of developed countries." She specifically mentioned expensive medication and the participation in workshops.

 

Leader of the St. Maarten delegation independent Member of Parliament (MP) Leona Marlin-Romeo tied the WTO issue to St. Maarten's wish to make use of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) related funds and expertise to address the vulnerabilities that small countries experience.

 

She said the islands were facing challenges and that it was indeed important to determine the status in the current development policy. "We are looking for support from the Netherlands. I am convinced that we qualify," she said.

 

Delegations also spoke about education and the obstacles that students from the islands faced in the Netherlands. The intake of new students from the islands was discussed. The Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten submitted their proposal, which they already agreed on during a tripartite meeting on Tuesday, for a fairer selection procedure for students who want to take up a study in the Netherlands.

 

A new policy of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is allowing a greater role for Dutch universities and higher vocational education HBO schools to select their incoming students. Part of the procedure is a personal intake with students who have applied, which especially takes place at studies with limited space.

 

According to independent Member of the Curaçao Parliament Glenn Sulvaran it is almost impossible for Dutch Caribbean students to personally take part in such an intake. There is not only the financial aspect of flying to the Netherlands, but time is also a factor. "Sometimes the students are only notified of the intake a few days in advance.

 

Sometimes the intakes take place during the exam period," said Sulvaran.

The three Parliaments asked the Dutch delegation to appeal on Education Minister Jet Bussemaker to allow the intake session to take place online, via Facetime or Skype. For those students that don't have these online facilities, it should be possible to organise a video-conferencing at the local study financing departments on the islands.

 

Senator Nanneke Quik-Schuijt of the Socialist Party (SP) made a plea for studying in the Caribbean region with a loan of the Dutch study financing organisation DUO. She suggested asking Minister Bussemaker to make this possible, even though the Dutch Government has excluded this option. St. Maarten MP William Marlin of the National Alliance said that this would help the St. Maarten students since studying in the region provided a better connection where it came to culture and language.

 

The Daily Herald