StatiaNews: Letter from Koos Sneek, Picture of the Day
Dear Editor,
Through this medium I would like to comment on the article in The Daily Herald on Wednesday Jan 10th on the visit of the presidents of the first and second chamber, Mrs. Ankie-Broekers-Knol and Mrs. Khadija Arib. Councilman van Putten is quoted as saying that the meeting was constructive and meaningful. At the same token he accused the opposition party, whose members also attended the meeting, of having a malicious approach by spreading one-sided, misguided, and baseless information. Such accusations in my humble opinion do not categorize under the heading of constructive and meaningful. On the other hand, it is common practice calling those who express a different opinion than the leader of the coalition and his government malicious.
It is correct that both chairladies from first and second chamber had hoped that the relations between Statia and The Hague would have had improved at the arrival of the new government, something van Putten agreed with. He even went on by stating his willingness for a dialogue based upon mutual respect. Hereby he apparently forgot the foul and insulting letters he and his coalition government had sent to the minister and parliament in the recent past, with copies sent all over the globe. Not to mention his video appearance threatening to kill the military and burn them in the streets. He apparently also considers respectful dialogue the manner he had treated the newly appointed state secretary Raymond Knops when he visited Statia a few weeks ago. He refused to meet with him and avoided him. He also did not make use of an opportunity to meet the state secretary during Saba Day, where both were present. Still he expressed to the chairladies his willingness to have a one on one meeting with Mr. Knops and even agreed with Mrs. Arib to include Mr. Sneek in this meeting. As “malicious” opposition member, I took it upon me after he agreed, to organize such a meeting later this week in Aruba, where the state secretary would be at that time. Due to his busy schedule however, Mr. Knops, putting aside the insulting way he was treated by van Putten in Statia, suggested a skype conference instead. This proposal was rejected by van Putten. Dialogue and respect are clearly meaningless words for him.
According to van Putten’s statements, his government will reject the findings of the committee of wise men. He and his government had refused to cooperate with their report because they did not agree with the composition of the committee. He even felt it necessary to discredit Mr. Refunjol, one of the committee members and former governor of Aruba. I don’t believe it will be relevant whether van Putten or his government rejects the findings. The findings most likely will be devastating and require stiff action against his coalition government. A government that has proven incompetent and unable to achieve anything to improve the functioning of government and the situation on our island. A government that sees no bone in ignoring rules and regulations and violating the law on a regular basis.
Note from Statianews: The report of the committee of wise men that is referred to in the letter above is not yet public. Once it is, Statianews will publish it for your information.
Photo caption: StatiaNews.com Picture of the Day: Statia harbour and lower town from above.
