For the decision-making meeting of 23 August 2023, a range of proposals were submitted to amend some provisions in the rules of procedure of the island council and the island council committees. In addition, a draft council decision was submitted on instruction and mandate to the island clerk that significantly deviates from the average instruction for the clerks in the European and Caribbean Netherlands, and a draft regulation establishing a permanent commission procedure was submitted that also significantly deviates from that of the European and Caribbean Netherlands.
Furthermore, there is a draft regulation on the Council survey of Bonaire, a draft council decision to approve a council note on policy determination, and accompanying documents and forms in which six decisions to be taken by the island Council are hidden, including the adoption of the draft regulation on information and decision-making of the Island Council of Bonaire 2023.
In the previous two weeks, Bonaire has also been shocked by an outright and personal attack on a deputy by a member of the opposition party in the island council who believes that the deputy has not acted with integrity, should draw his conclusions and step down. Any tangible evidence is completely missing. Furthermore, all advice was requested without any hesitation from the company in the name of the deputy’s partner with the requirement that this must be done before the deadline. The councilor in question was not attracted by the Code of conduct for councilors of the public body Bonaire, which clearly describes how to act in the event of suspected integrity violations by fellow councilors, the registrar, the governor and the island deputy. It remains to be seen that she will learn exactly the same and fiercely about a failed transaction with Fundashon Mariadal involving a council member.
If the documents concerning the decision-making meeting of 23 August are reviewed and to start easily, it appears that the island council wishes to grant its groups a fixed fraction fee of no less than US$ 60,000 per group. Exorbitantly high compared to European municipalities of comparable size. It is noteworthy that the members of the presidium, with the exception of the chief executive, receive a special allowance of no less than US$ 195 per month. It is the custom that a council should never decide a fee for itself, but always for the next term. Furthermore, it can be stated that the island council may appoint extraordinary members, who are not council members in the island council committees. It has failed to codify that these members must have stood as candidates on the last electoral roll, the so-called list successors in order to strengthen electoral legitimacy.
The process for this entire decision-making generates a certain suspicion and the question is whether the whole has been submitted to the executive board for their view. For the sake of politeness and legality, this should have been done. What is certain is that the Ministry of BZK has expressed itself and stated that the decision-making of the executive board and the governor should not be dependent on an agreement or judgment of the island council and that they should not determine what is or is not understood by the public or public interest. If the whole thing does take place, dualism and local democracy will be effectively blown up. A true horror.
With this state of affairs, it must be stated that the executive board and the interim authority as well as the previous authority cannot be completely acquitted. After all, it is during their period that decisions have been neglected to make public so that the island council can effectively carry out its supervisory tasks. Also, the sudden departure of the chief executive who is seen as the guardian of local democracy and administrative integrity, along with the taking office of some inexperienced councilors, has created the possibility that a true assault has been launched on local democracy.
The island council must once again be brought under control. To begin with, all standing committees should be abolished and a single central committee should be established to promote transparency in decision-making and effectiveness. The agenda of documents must be removed from the presidium and deposited with the Central Committee. The bureau is now being used to hijack the work of the island council and we should not have that. An experienced clerk should be brought in as a matter of urgency who can provide the necessary calm and preponderance. A new governor should be appointed as soon as possible. The island council should abide by the tasks of setting frameworks and regulations and representation and members should be aware that they are not members of parliament with a full-time appointment and fees. Finally, the college should ensure that an administrative programme is drawn up as soon as possible and sent to the council for debate and adoption. All in all, it is painful to note that we are still unable to strengthen local democracy.
