WILLEMSTAD--The four countries of the Kingdom signed a protocol at the end of the 2015 Kingdom Conference in Curaçao Tuesday night to cooperate in the area of twinning projects of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) within the Kingdom.

 

The protocol signed by the governments of the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten was one of three protocols that were approved at the Kingdom Conference. The other protocols related to economic cooperation through a special investment website that was launched at the end of the conference, www.investdutchkingdom.com, and cooperation in the area of competition ("mededinging") between Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten.

 

Under the twinning protocol it was agreed to establish the "Kon-nekt" regulation to promote twinning within the Kingdom. The countries will set up a special body to execute this regulation and appoint a recommendation committee to guide the protocol and regulation. The regulation will become effective no later than January 1, 2016, and will cover an initial period of three years.

 

The twinning mechanism will support promising initiatives and cooperation projects that befit the promotion of the social cohesion between the people of the countries of the Kingdom by connecting and supporting social organisations, NGOs, in the countries which are primarily operating in the area of wellbeing, public health and environment, education and youth, culture and sports, and conceptualisation within the Kingdom.

 

The financing of these twinning projects by the non-profit organisations will be in the hands of the individual islands, as the regulation doesn't include specific financing of these projects. The Dutch delegation asked specific attention for the organising of joint sports events which contribute to the cohesion in the Kingdom.

 

Aside from the launching of the investment website, the parties at the Kingdom Conference agreed to a follow-up assessment of the possibilities of broadening the free-trade zone within the Kingdom. Aruba and St. Maarten further agreed to make an assessment of the countries they want to set up a tax treaty with, and to draft an action plan for this purpose. Curaçao decided not to partake in this project at this time.

 

The three Dutch Caribbean countries signed a declaration of intention to cooperate in the area of competition. The Netherlands Authority of Consumer and Market ACM will support the authorities in the area of competition and the supervision of these entities for a period of three years. It was further agreed to conduct a feasibility study of a fast ferry connection between Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.

 

The status of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten as small island states was acknowledged at the conference. It was agreed to work together to face challenges that are part of being a Small Island Development State (SIDS). Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba will also be included. Specific areas of attention were set which the countries will continue working on: sustainable energy and innovation, waste management, climate change, crisis management and water management, economic vulnerability and capacity building.

 

In the area of health care, the countries agreed to charge their ministers of Public Health to further discuss cooperation modes within the Kingdom. The Netherlands committed to look into the possibility of expanding the number of positions for medical specialists who want to work in Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

 

The rights of the child was one of the most important topics at the Kingdom Conference. All countries agreed that it was essential to continue the process to improve the rights of children on the islands. The action plan of the Kingdom Task Force was adopted.

 

It was agreed to appoint an expert committee to establish a special week that focuses on the raising of children, to organise a Safety Net Conference in Aruba later this year, to implement a hotline for children throughout the Kingdom, and to make an inventory of the basic infrastructure to prevent, signal and stop child abuse. The inventories have to be ready before the next Kingdom Conference, which will take place in St. Maarten in April 2016.

 

The four countries were unable to reach an agreement on the format and setting up of a dispute regulation ("geschillenregeling") for the Kingdom. It was decided to continue deliberations at a governmental consultation ("bestuurlijk overleg") in three months.

 

The Daily Herald