PHILIPSBURG–Deputy Prime Minister Raphael Boasman forwarded a letter to all department heads, civil servants and contractors working with government instructing them not to meet with recently appointed Dutch Quartermaster Hans Leijtens who arrived on the island Sunday.
The Daily Herald understands Leijtens is meant to hold a number of meetings with local officials over the next two days. Whether those meetings will now go ahead as planned is unclear.
In the letter Boasman referred to a motion recently passed by Government concerning the Integrity Chamber. The motion resolved to “vigorously condemn” Dutch Minister of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Ronald Plasterk’s appointment of a Quartermaster for the Integrity Chamber that has been deemed unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, and called on the Government of St. Maarten to “use all means available” to block the creation of any institution that is in violation of the laws of the country.
The motion also urged the Government of St. Maarten to inform the Dutch Government that St. Maarten is of the opinion that the protocol between St. Maarten and the Netherlands signed on May 24, 2015, is “no longer executable.” Government was also advised to present to Parliament its plans of approach to tackle the remaining areas of integrity as reported in the various integrity investigation reports conducted here.
Boasman’s letter stated, “The Council of Ministers has decided to adopt this motion. In accordance to the motion, the necessary steps are being undertaken to present an overview on the status of and compliance on the recommendation of the integrity matters as reported in various integrity investigation reports conducted here.
“In view of the position of the Council of Ministers on abovementioned matters and the outline of steps taken, NO Secretary General, Head of a Department/Executive Body or any civil servant or person in service of Government is to meet with the recently appointed Dutch Quartermaster Hans Leijtens. Full cooperation is expected and no exceptions will be condoned.”
The letter also mentioned that Prime Minister William Marlin is scheduled to meet with Minister of Home Affairs Ronald Plasterk in Aruba during his visit there.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/63596-boasman-bans-civil-service-from-meeting-quartermaster
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