News item | 18-12-2024 | 13:27
The report ‘Civil-administrative integrity in the Caribbean Netherlands’ from the Scientific Research and Data Center (WODC) provides a current picture of the vulnerabilities in the integrity of administrators and civil servants on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. The report shows that improper use of powers is probably common. This generally does not always lead to criminal offenses such as fraud and corruption.
Nevertheless, the cabinet and the island governments find the results of the report worrying and see the need for a joint approach with strong measures. In this approach, the island authorities are responsible for their own integrity policy, the State Secretary for Digitalization and Kingdom Relations is responsible for the administrative and legal preconditions and the Minister of Justice and Security (JenV) for everything that affects criminal law.
Zsolt Szabo: “Integrity of political authorities and civil servants is an essential part of good governance and a precondition for economic growth and the self-reliance of the islands.”
David van Weel: “Residents and entrepreneurs on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba must be able to trust that the government is transparent and fair and committed to the public interest.”
In the policy response to the report sent to the House of Representatives today, Zsolt Szabó, State Secretary for Digitalization and Kingdom Relations, and David van Weel, Minister of Justice and Security, announce measures and a joint approach with the island authorities. This approach is based on recommendations from the report: strengthening the legal framework and procedures, exemplary behavior at the top, strengthening inter-administrative supervision and ensuring social preconditions and monitoring integrity.