PHILIPSBURG:--- Member of Parliament Wescot-Williams has formally called on the Kingdom government to ensure that Sint Maarten is explicitly taken into account as the Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to assess evolving conditions in the wider Caribbean.
In her letter to the Prime Minister of St. Maarten, the MP noted that a debate on current regional developments has been requested in the Dutch Second Chamber and stressed that the interests of Sint Maarten must not be lost in that discussion, despite the island not being at the geographic center of attention.
“Small island societies experience the effects of regional uncertainty differently and often more acutely,” the MP stated. “Scale matters. What may be manageable elsewhere can have immediate consequences for Sint Maarten.”
Referring to Article 3 of the Charter for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the MP emphasized that foreign affairs and the safeguarding of the international legal order are Kingdom responsibilities, requiring inclusive consideration of all constituent parts of the Kingdom, including in parliamentary debates.
“In a time of heightened geopolitical tension, legitimacy matters. When Dutch ministers act as Kingdom ministers on the international stage, their authority derives from the Kingdom as a whole. That authority must therefore be matched by accountability to all parliamentary bodies within the Kingdom.”
The MP further underscored the importance of the Kingdom continuing to promote peaceful and lasting solutions, rooted in respect for sovereignty, international law, and multilateral cooperation.
“For Sint Maarten, a stable and rules-based international environment is essential to economic security, social stability, and long-term resilience,” the MP concluded.
