|
|
|
 |
|
|
Concerns raised about wording of MOU on transborder cooperation
by The Daily Herald
Posted: Mar 21, 2006 16:39 UTC
|
PHILIPSBURG - The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Dutch and French St. Maarten on transborder cooperation will not be signed on March 23 as intended. During the Central Committee meeting yesterday it was decided to review the document and its wording.
The document is an agreement establishing the basics for cooperation that, according to Finance Commissioner Sarah Wescot-Williams, is taking place already in many areas on a practical level. She said Monday that several members had textual questions on the MOU.
She forwarded these questions to the advisors. “I asked my advisors to put the suggestions forward to the advisors of the French municipality.” She believes that if there are no misinterpretations the text can remain as it is. “Otherwise it should be changed.”
People’s Progressive Alliance (PPA) leader Gracita Arrindell said she could not agree with several aspects of the MOU. “The wording in particular has me concerned.”
She said it was stated in the introduction of the MOU that in 1648, referring to the then treaty of Concordia, “our well inspired ancestors had formalised the conditions of this bi-national sharing of one soil.”
It is primarily this particular passage that PPA wants to be reviewed by the Executive Council prior to the MOU being signed. Also the issue of a proposed budget has PPA’s concern, questioning how this common fund will be financed, given St. Maarten’s current precarious financial situation.
The MOU is a document that was first discussed in 2002. But while the French municipality gave the go-ahead for Mayor Albert Flaming to sign it, Dutch St. Maarten still isn’t ready to commit to the document in its current state.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Content © The Daily Herald 2006 - All Rights Reserved.
You may bookmark this web page, print it or e-mail it to
a friend in accordance with the fair-use provisions of
copyright laws. The material is intended solely for the use
of the individual user.
Archiving, redistribution, or republication of this
material
on other terms, in any medium, requires the express
written permission of the author or publication and the
notification of the editors of Caribseek News. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
