Interparliamentary Kingdom consultation on St. Maarten
The standing committees for Kingdom Relations of the Senate and the House of Representatives will participate in the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) in St. Maarten from Wednesday, 4th of May to Friday, 6th of May 2022. During the IPKO, delegations from the States General and from the Parliaments of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten meet to discuss themes that concern the countries of the Kingdom.
The IPKO is the consultative structure of the parliaments of the countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and takes place twice a year. This IPKO was previously planned in January 2022, but has been postponed to May 2022 due to COVID19.
Programme IPKO
On the agenda of the IPKO are discussions on the proposal for the Caribbean Reform and Development Act (COHO), which was sent to all parliaments in February, the state of affairs regarding the implementation of the country packages, better and sustainable relations within the Kingdom (including cooperation, aid and assistance, human rights and corporate governance, and the implementation of the Rosenmöller motions (EK 35570 IV, L) and Van Raak et al. (TK 35099 (R2114), no. 24)) and consensus kingdom laws.
During the working visit organised by the States of St. Maarten within the framework of the IPKO, a number of projects will be visited in the context of the reconstruction after the devastation in 2017 by hurricanes Irma and Maria. Attention is also paid to the prison system of St. Maarten. The Ministry of Justice will give a presentation on the plans for the renovation and improvement of the prison and the delegations will visit the Point Blanche prison.
Working visits
Prior to the IPKO, the Delegation of States General will make working visits to Saba and St. Eustatius on Monday the 2nd and Tuesday 3rd of May. Topics such as opportunities for young people and young professionals, economic development, infrastructure and sustainable development are central here.
Delegation composition
Senate
Paul Rosenmöller (GroenLinks) – deputy delegation leader; chair of the Standing Committee on Kingdom Relations
Joop Atsma (CDA)
Toine Beukering (Nanninga Group)
Boris Dittrich (D66)
Peter Ester (Christian Union)
House of Representatives
Mariëlle Paul (VVD) – delegation leader; chair of the Standing Committee on Kingdom Relations
Roelien Kamminga (VVD)
Jorien Wuite (D66)
Joba van den Berg (CDA)
Don Ceder (Christian Union)
Liane den Haan (Fraction Den Haan)