WILLEMSTAD--It was an emotional last day in the conference room of the former Antillean Parliament, with laughter, a tear here and there, some reflection and best wishes for the future.

Three minutes before closing the meeting, Chairman Pedro Atacho (PAR) suggested that departing members bid their respective farewells in their own way, but several of the members in question had already started saying goodbye. Erno Labega (DP-St. Maarten) had already received a laugh during the morning hours after he was introduced "with great pleasure" by Atacho.

"I have been in this hall three years already and this is the first time that I am introduced in this manner. Perhaps you are happy I'm leaving," Labega joked. Later in the afternoon, Labega described his years in Parliament as a "public upbringing."

Glenn Camelia (FK) was very critical. He opened his intervention by saying, "This will be my last performance in a parliament." He described his term in office as "in itself a pleasant experience," but said it had cost him considerable effort to get used to the political rules of the game. "It's a game of minority and majority."

"I have always treated everyone with respect in order to give a positive contribution. However, the matter of being a rubber stamp, the game of minority against majority, and the fact that one cannot express one's thoughts because they do not fit within the system of your party or the coalition; that's not how I am," he said.

Party colleague Nelson Navarro, who will also not be returning in the new Antillean Parliament, had a warning for the future legislators and administrators of Country Curaçao: "Let's do our utmost so that the transfer of tasks from the Central Government to the Island Territories will not turn into an administrative chaos.

"We must not give the Dutch Government any chance to come up with a General Measure of Kingdom Governance AMvRM. We must grab this unique chance. It is a difficult process, but not impossible."

Jopie Abraham (ADB), who was elected to Parliament for the first time 25 years ago, also dwelt upon his years in office. Abraham was a young man of 35 years at the time and shared the floor with several legendary Antillean politicians during the course of the years. Abraham, who has meanwhile joined the Executive Council of Bonaire as a commissioner, mainly spoke of the honour to have served the Antillean people.

Ray Hassell (WIPM), who is bidding Parliament farewell after 12 years, gave an emotional speech. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family. "When I joined Parliament my children were still going to school. Twelve years later, they are married and I have grandchildren. Politics can be very demanding." He also dwelt upon the friendships he had struck during the past years as a parliamentarian and concluded that these were for life. "We have all become friends," said Hassell.

The farewell speech by PAR member Glenn Liqui Lung was so emotional that he was unable to finish it.

PNP member Dudley Lucia had experienced 18 years in the Antillean Parliament. In his farewell speech, he recalled the level maintained at the time in the meetings during the various debates.

"I ask the new members to value the name of the Antillean Parliament. Many conflicts can be avoided by treating each other respectfully. There will always be differences of opinion, but one should deal with these positively. I had bid Parliament farewell already in 1994, but returned four years later and ended up being a member for 14 continuous years," Lucia said.

Former Prime Minister Mirna Louisa-Godett (FOL) also experienced her last day in Parliament. As the orange party did not win a seat in the last elections, FOL will not return to the last Parliament of the Netherlands Antilles.

In her speech, Louisa-Godett thanked, among others, her husband, former FOL faction-member Johnny Louisa, and former PAR and now DP member Jacqueline Spencer. Louisa-Godett will now return to Curaçao's waste processing company Selikor, but she emphasised that FOL would return and concluded her speech with "Té despues" (until later).

In turn, Louisa-Godett was highly commended by colleague FOL faction member Gelmar Caldera, who described her as his "colleague-sister." He said she had been valuable during the past years, and thanked his other parliamentarian colleagues thoroughly.

Independent member Anthony Nicolaas, who left UPB last year and continued as an independent Member of Parliament and Island Council member to form a new island-level coalition with ADB against his old party, had a striking word of gratitude. He actually thanked UPB for giving him a chance.

UPB member Onnie Emerenciana in turn said he had learned a lot from his colleagues: "On the outside, one wants you to believe that Parliament members cuss one another in the conference room, but are good friends outside the conference room. I have learned that we treat each other with respect here, but that everyone is convinced he or she is right. Collectively, we represent substantial power.

"It's a pity that the islands decided to go their own way. I hope that the expression 'leaning on own strength, but willing to support one another' will remain applicable in the future."

Dwigno Puriel (MAN) described his term in Parliament as four very eventful years. "I arrived here without reading glasses, but am now leaving with a pair. We pursued a tough opposition. The human dignity, solidarity, and social justice were our main issues. Our manner of pursuing politics was strong and tough, but always respectful, from the search for oil in our waters to the extension of maternity leave. We have always laboured for transparency."

Party colleague Jean Francisca highly commended his colleagues and faction members, and thanked everyone with whom he had worked during the past period.

"I once ended up in Parliament to attempt to realise the constitutional wish of the population of this island. At the time it was the intention to acquire our autonomous status in July 2007. Four years later, I am leaving and that wish has still not been realised. Much has been accomplished, but this is not what the population had voted for in 2005," he said.

Of all outgoing members, Charel Janga (PAR) had the shortest term in Parliament. In his word of gratitude, he commended – as had many colleagues before him – the Parliament Clerks Department, which he said could serve as an example for the entire civil service. "I am not saying that I will not return, but I am convinced that PAR will continue to grow in the upcoming elections. I will gladly contribute if one were to call on me again."

The members of the former Parliament will go down in history, said Chairman Pedro Atacho (PAR) towards the end of the last meeting of the outgoing legislature. According to him, the members involved supervised the process to make Parliament more independent from government, "something that will serve as an example for the future Parliaments of St. Maarten and Curaçao."