Residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba share their ideas about amendments to two laws: WolBES and FinBES
The laws governing the administrative and financial relations between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands are to be modified. The amendments are necessary to improve the administrative and financial relations between the public bodies and the European Netherlands. Through an Internet consultation, residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are able to share their ideas about the amendments to WolBES and FinBES.
An emphasis on trust
WolBES and FinBES came into effect in 2010. WolBES defines how the public bodies are organised, while FinBES sets out how financial relations and financial supervision are arranged. In recent years, considerable knowledge and experience have been gained about how these laws work in practice. There is a better understanding of what is going well and where there is room for improvement. The proposed amendments to the laws place more emphasis on the basis for trust between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands and on greater local self-government.
The main amendments to WolBES and FinBES
A number of proposals have been made to improve administrative and financial relations. There are plans to increase the number of island council members and governing council members. This will strengthen local democracy. In addition, the position of the Government Representative is being discontinued. Some of the associated duties will be transferred to the lieutenant governor. The amendments also seek to make supervising the performance of the islands’ tasks simpler and more flexible. The legislative amendments will help ensure a better functioning and more effective government and less bureaucracy, which will benefit the inhabitants of the Caribbean Netherlands.
How the amendments have been developed
The legislative proposals have been drawn up in close consultation with the public bodies of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba. Advice has also been sought from various stakeholders, including the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands, the acting Government Representative, the Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Board of Financial Supervision and the various ministries.
Islanders give their views
All residents of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba can say what they think about the bill in their own language. The central government is collecting suggestions on improvements to the bill from citizens, businesses and other organisations through a special website. Islanders are being actively invited through various media channels to respond to the proposed amendments to WolBES and FinBES. Responses can be made up to September the 30th 2023, 23:59 am European Dutch time.
This can be done through https://www.internetconsultatie.nl/wolbesfinbes.