Looks like PAR is out

WILLEMSTAD--Curaçao is likely to get a completely new governing coalition now that the three parties MFK (5 seats), PS (4 seats) and MAN (2 seats) signed a statement of intent to come to a new Executive Council which would have a minimal majority support of 11 seats in the 21-seat Island Council.

The signing took place at the home of MFK leader Gerrit Schotte, after he had cancelled a meeting with Antillean Parliament Chairman Pedro Atacho who was conducting formation talks on behalf of PAR, which won the election with eight seats. However, because PAR's current partners PNP and FOL got only one seat each, the existing coalition had lost its majority.

In addition to pro-independence party "Pueblo Soberano" (PS), MAN had also stated it would not work with PAR, leaving "Movementu Futuro Korsou" (MFK) as the yellow party's only viable option. Apparently Schotte's new party prefers a coalition in which it is the biggest partner and would claim the first Prime Minister of country Curaçao should the constitutional change process for the dismantling of the Netherlands Antilles be concluded on 10-10-10 as intended.

Whether the latter will still be the case remains to be seen, however, as both PS and MAN oppose the agreements made with the Netherlands and voted against the draft constitution for country Curacao in the outgoing Island Council.

The latter resulted in a lack of the required two-thirds majority to pass the constitution and the dissolving of the Island Council to elect a new one that can pass the draft with a regular majority and also become the first Parliament of country Curaçao.

PS has already said it will vote against the current draft. The MFK/PS/MAN statement of intent said there will be "a new process to result in a new constitution."

At the same time, however, the three parties give each other the room to vote on the current draft constitution "according to their conscience" and said the voting result will have no impact on the negotiations for a new Executive Council. This could mean that MFK and/or MAN may vote in favour together with the current coalition parties so that the new relations within the Dutch Kingdom can still take effect.

The so-called "Duncan Law" that the Antillean Parliament adopted last March states that the new Island Councils to become the first Parliaments of future countries Curaçao and St. Maarten will implement the "dualistic system" (separation legislative- and executive branches of government) en route to acquiring country status within the Dutch Kingdom. That means it will no longer be possible for commissioners to be Island Council members.

The Explanatory Memorandum on the law states: "After the dissolution of the Island Council, an Island Council will namely be formed of, which the members cannot be members of, the Executive Council at the same time. Within the framework of the constitutional reforms, it is desirable to implement dualism after the interim dissolution. The acting Island Council of Curaçao at the time of commencement of the Constitution will namely receive the capacity of Parliament of Curaçao."

In view of the fact that Commissioners David Dick (PAR), Zita Jesus-Leito (PAR), Marilyn Alcalá-Wallé (PAR) and Anthony Godett (FOL) will certainly be seated in the new Island-Council this Saturday, this means the Island Territory Curaçao could be without commissioners if no new coalition is concluded by Saturday.

It is not certain yet whether Humphrey Davelaar (PNP) will become a member of the Island-Council. The PNP earned one seat, but the party hasn't decided yet as to whom will hold this seat. Davelaar will resign as commissioner though.

Commissioner Dick has started clearing his office already. He seems to feel PAR will not be part of a possible new Executive Council.