Motion Presented to Continue the Masbangu Investigation
THE HAGUE, Netherlands:--- The Minister of Kingdom Relations and Interior Affairs Ronald Plasterk told the second chamber on Wednesday that he has taken the decision to make some proposals to the Kingdom Council that he intends to take against St. Maarten. Minister Plasterk said he has decided to send a special corruption and money laundering unit to the Prosecutor's Office of St. Maarten while an Integrity Officer will also be appointed by the Netherlands to supervise the implementation of measures and plans to enhance integrity on St. Maarten. Minister Plasterk also said he intends to send more support for the Marechaussee, Customs Department, Prosecutor's Office and Coast Guard.
While the above measures will be taken, The Hague will assume a bigger role in the area of immigration and the protection of the borders. Plasterk announced that the RST team will also get a permanent basis so it can structurally assist and strengthen the Landsrecherche. MP Van Raak presented a motion for the Kingdom Government to initiate the continuation of the Masbangu investigation and they (Kingdom) should give the Prosecutor's Office the necessary support they need to fully conduct that investigation.
Labour MP Roelof van Laar said that the house is astonished by the lack of action by the Prosecutor's Office on St. Maarten who did not investigate the leader of the UPP in the Masbangu investigation. He said he felt that the UPP leader bought votes again this year where he won the 2014 Parliamentary Elections. Van Laar feels that a business cabinet or a national government should be established before Heyliger becomes Prime Minister of St. Maarten.
Clean Sweep for St. Maarten (De Telegraaf)
Holland to intervene in St. Maarten because corruption is out of hand. The government will be investigated by a new special legal team. The smallest country in the Kingdom must also surrender border control to Holland because it cannot handle it.
These far reaching measures have been announced by Minister Plasterk. In a budget debate today over the Kingdom budget the Labor Party leader will announce that tough measures will be taken.
Plasterk is reacting to an independent report from last weekend. That investigation shows that corruption is rampant in all layers of government. The findings in the report, which he himself requested are alarming. The rot is everywhere, including in the political leadership. This is unacceptable in the Kingdom.
The Labor Party leader wants the still very young country to accept his package of measures to get it back on track. If the country does not accept then the Kingdom Council can compel them to.
All four countries have a seat in the Kingdom Council and the Dutch cabinet can force through these measures.
