March 26, 2006: Speech by the Governor at the Occasion of the Administration of the Oath to the Cabinet De Jongh-Elhage
March 26, 2006: Speech by the Governor at the Occasion of the Administration of the Oath to the Cabinet De Jongh-ElhageSPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES, mr. F.M. D.L.S. GOEDGEDRAG ON THE OCCASION OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATH TO THE NEW MINISTERS AND SECRETARIES OF STATE OF THE NETHERLANDS ANTILLES ON SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2006.
Today, we are gathered here on this special Sunday to witness, together with the population of the Islands of the Netherlands Antilles, the administration of the oath to the new ministers and secretaries of state of our country. This cabinet is expected to be the last one of the Netherlands Antilles. This mere fact makes it a historical event. Our country is on the eve of drastic political changes.
These political changes, and conditions under which they can take place, do not automatically devolve on the Islands of the Netherlands Antilles. It is not a question of waiting for the date of July 1, 2007 to be able to cash in the much desired status. It does not work that way. It will require great efforts and drastic measures to lay the foundations on which the new status of the Islands can be constructed. The citizens expect the Government to exert itself in order to offer them perspective again, and this is first of all tackling the problems in education, combating the enormous youth unemployment, reorganizing public funds, exterminating poverty and combating criminality. These issues continue to dominate the life of the citizen, regardless of the political structure. More than that, the political reforms must be for the purpose of tackling our problems on all the Islands.
Although the political parties, which form this coalition, have their bases in the Island Territories where they originate, being a minister or state secretary entails that you have to serve the whole population of the Netherlands Antilles. This means that the interests of the populations of all the Island Territories must be promoted. For, even though we see another political structure before us, union and friendship between the populations of our Island Territories continue to prevail.
The same holds good in connection with the relations within the Kingdom. The Kingdom is not only a legal entity, but also a community of people with common values. This community guarantees the principles of the democratic constitutional state and of the rule of law which can create the conditions for stability and prosperity.
I would like to thank Mr. Ys and his ministers and state secretaries for what they have done in the general interest of the population of the Netherlands Antilles in the past few years. I have always appreciated the cooperation with the members of the Cabinet, which has just resigned. I wish both you and your families all the best in the future. With respect to those of you who are returning in the new Cabinet, I am looking forward to a renewed cooperation.
For the formation of this new Cabinet, a special word of thanks must go to Mr. Atacho for accepting his commission as the formateur of this Cabinet. With great energy, he first worked as the informateur and subsequently as the formateur on the formation of this Cabinet, which was realized at a record speed. Mr. Atacho, I thank you and your team for your efforts and the result produced standing here in person before us.
I want to congratulate Mrs. De Jongh-Elhage and her team, which has just been sworn into office, on behalf of my wife too. You have assumed a great responsibility in a particularly difficult period. I wish you much strength and wisdom, and hope and expect that we can work closely together.
I also want to extend my congratulations to your families and relatives. Let us all work together in good harmony, in unity, in a transparent manner and according to the principles of sound administration with the social partners in the general interest of the Island Territories and their populations.