News item | 6/19/2023 | 4:43 pm
The laws governing the administrative and financial relations between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands will be amended. The amendment is necessary to improve the administrative and financial relations between the public entities and the European Netherlands. Through an internet consultation, residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba can contribute ideas about the amendments to the law of the WolBES and FinBES.
Invest in trust
The WolBES and FinBES have been in effect since 2010. The WolBES describes how the public bodies are organized. The FinBES states how the financial relationships and financial supervision are arranged. In recent years, a great deal of knowledge and experience has been gained about how these laws work in practice. There is more insight into what is going well and where there is room for improvement. The proposed amendments to the law further invest in the basis of trust between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands and the further-reaching local autonomy.
Main changes WolBES and FinBES
A number of proposals are being made to improve administrative and financial relations. The intention is to increase the number of Island Council members and Executive Council members. This strengthens local democracy. In addition, the position of the Kingdom Representative will lapse. Some of the tasks are assigned to the lieutenant governor. It is also the intention to make supervision of the implementation of island tasks simpler and more flexible. The amendments to the law contribute to a better functioning and more decisive government and less bureaucracy, which benefits the inhabitants of the Caribbean Netherlands.
Creation of legislation
The bills have been drafted in consultation with the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. In addition, advice was also requested from various stakeholders, including the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands, the acting Kingdom Representative, the Board of Financial Supervision Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba and the various departments.
Residents give their opinion
All residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba can give their opinion on this bill in their own language. The national government collects suggestions for improvement of the legislative proposal from citizens, companies and other organizations via a special website. Residents are actively called on through various media to respond to the bill to amend the WolBES and FinBES. Responses can be made until September 30, 2023, 11:59 PM European Dutch time. This can be done via: https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/wolbesfinbes.