WILLEMSTAD – During a technical briefing with members of the Council of State of the Kingdom, the Parliament of Curaçao raised critical questions about cooperation within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Rennox Calmes, leader of TPK and Member of Parliament, voiced concerns about the power dynamics between the Kingdom’s countries and stressed the need for clear agreements to enable effective collaboration.
Calmes argued that the current Kingdom Charter, which governs the relations within the Kingdom, is inadequate for fostering equal cooperation. He noted that as long as some parties see themselves as superior to others, genuine equality will remain unattainable. He also opposed the Council of State’s proposal to grant all Kingdom citizens voting rights for the Dutch House of Representatives. Instead, Calmes advocated for a Kingdom Parliament where all partners would have equal representation.
Power Imbalance in Decision-Making
Other Members of Parliament, including Sheldry Osepa of the PNP, questioned the feasibility and added value of the Kingdom’s current structure. They expressed doubts about how the existing power balance—16 Dutch ministers versus three plenipotentiary ministers from the Caribbean countries—contributes to democratic decision-making.
Eduard Braam of the MFK argued that this imbalance undermines the strength of democratic decisions. Ans-Maria Pauletta of the PAR raised concerns about the tangible benefits of the Kingdom Charter for the people of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten, and questioned the root causes of conflicts within the Kingdom.
Technical Issues and Shared Challenges
The discussion was hindered by technical difficulties during the meeting, limiting communication with the Council of State members. Despite these challenges, Paul Comenencia, a Council of State representative for Curaçao, emphasized the importance of addressing the Kingdom’s challenges collaboratively.