Member of Parliament Drs. Shailiny Tromp-Lee from IPKO: Expert Group Presents Progress Report on Democratic Deficit within the Kingdom

During the meetings of the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultations (IPKO) currently taking place in the Netherlands, one of the crucial agenda items discussed was the presentation by the expert group (Deskundigengroep) analyzing the “Democratic Deficit within the Kingdom.” Representing Aruba in this commission is Mr. Johan Sjiem Fat, alongside representatives from Sint Maarten, Curaçao, and the Netherlands.
When we speak of a “democratic deficit,” we refer to the lack of a fair balance in decision-making within the Kingdom. Often, laws and decisions made by the Netherlands have a direct impact on our islands, but without us having the democratic voice or vote to decide on or propose changes to them.
This commission is working precisely to find a solution to this lack of fair representation in order to protect the rights of our people.
This agenda point carries great weight for our future, and with the power of Almighty God, their recommendations will hopefully create a balance of power within the Kingdom.
The tasks and exact mandate of this expert group were defined during the IPKO of June 2024 in The Hague. The purpose of the presentation was to give the participating delegations at IPKO an overview of the current work and how the group envisions the coming months to formalize the final report.
Member of Parliament Drs. Shailiny Tromp-Lee underlined the importance of this process: “The democratic deficit within the Kingdom is a structural issue that commands our continuous attention. The fact that the expert group is working hard gives us hope that by October of this year, as indicated, we will have a solid document on the table.”
“As a Parliament, we must formally await this report so that we can, in an autonomous and responsible manner, determine the next steps and decisions that need to be made.”
The handout and working documents presented by the expert group have been officially included as part of the agreements list of this IPKO. With this, the delegations remain properly informed so that when the final report is delivered, they can act with determination for the well-being of the citizens of their respective countries.