Cooperative Platform off to faltering start

Former Island Governor Gerald Berkel.\n\nST. EUSTATIUS--United People’s Coalition (UPC), Democratic Party (DP) and Statia’s Liberal Action Movement (SLAM) have formed a Cooperative Platform. Chaired by former Island Governor Gerald Berkel, the platform, which was established on April 12, will be seeking a dialogue with Government Commissioner Marcolino “Mike” Franco and deputy Commissioner Mervyn Stegers. The Platform, however, experienced a faltering start as Berkel’s leadership was quickly challenged by UPC leader Reginald Zaandam.\n\nMembers of the Platform see a need for dialog with the Commissioner who was appointed by State Secretary of Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops, after the Island and Executive Councils were dissolved in February.\n\nThe Platform will serve as medium through which organisations can share ideas regarding the improvement of Government during this transitional phase, it was stated Tuesday morning in a press release.\n\nInvitations were extended to various political parties and social organisations to participate in the formation of the Platform. It remains open to all political and non-political organisations that would like to join, it was stated.\n\nIn confirming their commitment to a cooperative effort with shared objectives the Platform’s participants signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU defines the objectives of the Platform, which are to cooperate in a joint effort to promote a common agenda, to commit to actively submitting ideas and promoting the agreed agenda which goals are to improve the structure of the Island Government, policies and procedures.\n\nThe MoU also mentions the cooperation with the island’s administration and other regional and international agencies.\n\n“Through dialogue the Platform intends to promote its core agenda which focusses on issues of transparency, accountability and good governance,” it was stated.\n\nThe Platform has requested a meeting with the Executive Council. “In this critical phase of our island’s development it is our collective responsibility to seek to work together in shaping the future of St. Eustatius and, therefore, the platform is ready to contribute to this important process and looks forward to a positive dialogue with the Executive Council,” the Platform says.\n\nBerkel, who is the Platform’s chair and facilitator, explained that while the members of the Executive and Island Councils were relieved of their responsibilities the institutions of the Executive and Island Council as defined in the law governing Bonaire, Statia and Saba WolBES remain applicable for Statia.\n\n“The tasks of these entities are now executed by the Kingdom Commissioners. Therefore, in formulating our request for a meeting we addressed this request to the Executive Council to indicate in what capacity we are addressing ourselves to the Commissioners,” Berkel explained.\n\nThe Platform, however, may be short-lived as 30 minutes after the Platform’s formation was officially announced, UPC leader Reginald Zaandam quickly distanced himself from the announcement since, according to him, Berkel’s chairmanship had never been agreed on.\n\n“I am absolutely positive to work together with the other parties and share ideas regarding the improvement of Government during the current transitional phase,” Zaandam told The Daily Herald. “But the UPC cannot go along with a decision about which our party has not been given the opportunity to discuss.”\n\nThe MoU was accompanied by an official press announcement signed by Berkel as “facilitator.” Zaandam is a former Member of Parliament (MP) and is known for his respect for protocol and agreements.\n\nIn an e-mail to Berkel, Zaandam writes: “Must the UPC assume that in the last meeting your position is discussed and agreed upon that you will chair the Platform? If that is the case, then we of the UPC at least expected that we would have been granted the opportunity to voice our opinion on the matter. If not, then the part in the press release stating that you are the one chairing the Platform should be omitted. Looking forward to a clarification on this matter.”\n\nVarious attempts to contact members of the other parties involved went unanswered. Spokesman for the DP Koos Sneek is currently off-island.\n\nHowever, political insiders are confident that the faltering start to the Cooperative Platform will be quickly resolved.


Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76052-cooperative-platform-off-to-faltering-start"