The Kingdom Representative
The Kingdom Representative has a variety of tasks in the Caribbean Netherlands. He is the ‘eyes and ears’ for the various Ministers in the Netherlands and he keeps the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK) informed. He also sends proposals for royal honours with his advice and the advice of the Governor to the Civil Honours Council in The Hague. As of January 1st 2018 Jan Helmond will be the acting Kingdom Representative.
The Kingdom Representative also promotes cooperation between the government officials of the National Government on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, as well as cooperation with the island governments. In turn these administrations can catch up with the Kingdom Representative on issues they consider important for the islands.
Good governance
The Kingdom Representative also monitors the decisions of the islands, for example staff appointments and the financial remuneration of the political fractions in the Island Council.
For the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, he checks to see if public entities take any decisions that are in conflict with the law or public interest. He also makes sure that the Lieutenant Governor is appointed in accordance with the rules and takes action when the island government is not doing its job properly. All in all, the Kingdom Representative must help promote good governance.
Safety and security
Another important role that the Kingdom Representative has is to do with safety and security. The Island Governor can use him as intermediary in the event of a fire, disaster or crisis and to ask for military help. The police or the Royal Netherlands Military Constabulary can also ask him to do so. In the event of a disaster, crisis or emergency affecting more than one island, the Kingdom Representative can give instructions to the authorities. He can also intervene in the event of a state of emergency. Furthermore, the Kingdom Representative ensures that the disaster and crisis plans of the public entities are in order.
It was laid down in the Veiligheidswet BES (‘Security BES Act’) that the Kingdom Representative has the statutory duty to prepare a coordination plan for island exceeding disaster relief and crisis control in the Caribbean Netherlands that is re-established at least every four years. Download the most recent coordination plan island exceeding disaster relief and crisis control.
Kingdom Representative’s Office
The Representative of the Kingdom works on Bonaire as well as on St. Eustatius and Saba. He does this partly from his office on Bonaire, but he is also regularly on Saba and Statia (local name for Sint Eustatius). During his working visits, he speaks with administrators, civil servants, entrepreneurs and politicians and with people who are active in society. During his visits he tries to be on location as much as possible and as little as possible in the office. If the Kingdom Representative is not on St. Eustatius or Saba, he is in regular contact via telephone, e-mail and video conference.
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Bonaire |
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Visiting address |
Blvd. Gobernador N. Debrot 46, Kralendijk, Bonaire |
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Postal address |
PO Box 357, Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands |
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Tel |
+599 715 8304 |
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Sint Eustatius |
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Visiting address |
Fort Oranjestraat z/n Mazinga Complex, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius |
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Postal address |
P.O. Box 26, Oranjestad, St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands |
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Tel |
+599 318 3370 |
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Saba |
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Visiting address |
Capt. M. Levenstone Street Old Antique Inn, The Bottom, Saba |
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Postal Address |
Capt. M. Levenstone Street Old Antique Inn, The Bottom, Saba, Caribbean Netherlands |
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Tel |
+599 416 3934 |
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