~ Meetings on Dispute regulations hold off on handling~
PHILIPSBURG: --- The Kingdom Council of Ministers has given their support to State Secretary Raymond Knops to continue withholding the 5th tranche of liquidity support from St. Maarten until there is tangible improvement with Corporate Governance at the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE). St. Maarten was given until May 26th, 2021 to regulate the issues at PJIAE however, the deadline has not been met according to the requirements the Dutch demanded.
The scheduled meetings to debate the Dispute Regulations have also been placed on hold with the First Chamber supporting the Caribbean Countries of the Dutch Kingdom since the regulation has not gotten any support from St. Maarten, Curacao, and Aruba. Because of the lack of support the Kingdom Council of Ministers has decided to place the debate on hold until they are able to review the draft law.
Prime Minister of St. Maarten Silveria Jacobs and Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion have not made any official statements regarding the development with the 5th tranche. However, Jacobs has said on several occasions that St. Maarten has met all the conditions regarding the 5th tranche and that the Dutch Government continues to move the goalposts when it comes to St. Maarten and the liquidity support.
This article will be updated later today when more information becomes available.