Press
Release, February 8, 2018
The Caribbean Progressive Alliance (CPA),
an association formed during a meeting of COPPPAL on St Maarten , in May 2017,
with as members organizations from the
remaining non-self governing countries in general, globally and regionally,
with a particular emphasis on the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles.
Counted among our growing members are
Puerto Rico, San Andres, Providenciales and
U.S. Virgin Islands, B.V.I., The French
and Dutch overseas territories.
The CPA has followed with consternation and
disbelief the treatment meted out by the Dutch government on the people of the
former Netherlands Antilles, especially the BES islands of Bonaire and St.
Eustatius. Over the past seven years the Dutch government has done everything
within its power, to frustrate and obstruct the proper functioning of the duly
elected governments on these islands.
Through instruments such as but not limited
to instructions to the Lt. Governor, overreach by an appointed Kingdom
Representative , who is a civil servant, with authority bestowed by the Dutch
government to block and or delay any legitimate actions of government that the
Dutch don’t approve of.
Additionally, the Dutch government has
proceeded to anchor these islands into the Dutch constitution against the
wishes of the peoples as expressed in referenda held on both islands.
The Dutch government while not living up to
any agreement or complying with its obligations vies@vies the islands socially,
economically or politically, have decided unilaterally without dialogue or
consultation with the duly elected government of St Eustatius to put aside the
will of the people, via a measurer of higher supervision and administer the
island by an administrative commissioner appointed by the Dutch.
This action is not keeping with the
principles of democracy or in accordance with the United Nations Charter which
prescribes a full measure of self government.
The CPA vehemently opposes this
undemocratic and draconian action of the Dutch government, in the unjust
take-over of the St Eustatius government and the setting aside of the duly
elected members of the island council and the appointed commissioners.
For the good order we wish to perfectly make
clear , we condemn and reject this action as illegal, draconian and without
merit or justification, and we stand in solidarity with our sister island in
its struggle for justice and the right to a full measure of self government.
We shall therefore seek redress in cooperation
with St Eustatius by all legal means available to us.
