THE HAGUE – The governments of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten have failed to submit a joint response in time to the 2024 advisory opinion issued by the Council of State on the 70th anniversary of the Kingdom Charter. This was disclosed by Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó in a letter to the Dutch House of Representatives. 

The advisory was intended to spark a dialogue about the functioning of the Kingdom Charter and the relationship between the four countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. A collective response from all four countries was initially promised ahead of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO), which was originally scheduled for October but was moved up to June due to a NATO summit. 

Szabó noted in his letter that a meeting took place on February 6 with the Prime Ministers of the Caribbean countries. During that meeting, it was agreed that each country would submit its contribution by May. Aruba requested a formal extension, while Curaçao and Sint Maarten informed, through their officials, that they required more time. Only the Netherlands finalized its position, adopting a response on May 23 in the Council of Ministers of the Kingdom. 

Szabó emphasized that input from the Caribbean countries is essential to forming a unified Kingdom-wide position. He announced plans to invite the three Prime Ministers to a new meeting in hopes of still achieving a joint statement. If relevant positions emerge from that dialogue, he said they will be shared with the House of Representatives. 

The Kingdom Charter outlines the constitutional relationships between the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten. In a lecture at the University of Curaçao on October 21, 2024, Council of State Vice President Thom de Graaf argued that the Charter can sometimes hinder cooperation rather than promote it. He asserted that effective cooperation must stem from local needs, not from pressure or rejection disguised as autonomy. 

The Council of State’s advisory included recommendations to strengthen cooperation within the Kingdom, ensure good governance in the Caribbean countries, and better reflect the principle of equality among the four countries. These suggestions also referenced commitments made during the 2006 constitutional reforms.