PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten – Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs visited the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament Anouchka van Miltenburg on Friday. The Second Chamber is also referred to as the House of Representatives.
Minister Plenipotentiary Fleming-Artsen stated over the weekend the visit to the President of the Dutch Second Chamber of Parliament was the last official visit that Prime Minister Gumbs had scheduled as part of his official working visit to the Netherlands.
“The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the Second Chamber about his efforts to promote the Kingdom of the Netherlands candidacy for the United Nations (UN) Security Council with respect to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) of nations who have seats in the UN General Assembly.
“Prime Minister Gumbs also explained to President Miltenburg that his efforts have been made even more difficult due to the constant stress in the relationship between Philipsburg and The Hague on a number of issues.
“The Prime Minister extended an invitation to President Miltenburg for her and the Dutch Inter-parliamentary delegation to meet with the Government during their visit to the country in January 2016,” Sint Maarten’s Minister Plenipotentiary Josianne Fleming-Artsen said over the weekend.
Anouchka van Miltenburg was elected President of Parliament (Speaker) on 25 September, 2012. Miltenburg has also been a Member of Parliament since 2003.
The representatives or Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected directly by the Dutch voters. There are 150 MPs.
The main duties of the Second Chamber of Parliament are co-legislation and checking that the Government carries out its work properly. Parliament also plays an important role in policy-making.
MPs have certain rights in order to carry out their duties as well as they can. For instance, they have the right to propose bills themselves, or to amend bills proposed by the Government.
By motion they can ask the government to take action on a certain issue, or they can give their opinion on the policies of the Government.
Ministers and State Secretaries must inform the House of Representatives adequately. MPs have the right to ask questions of the members of the Cabinet and to call them to account.
The members of the Sint Maarten delegation that met with President Miltenburg also included the Prime Ministers Chief of Cabinet Julien Larmonie and Legal Counsel to the Minister Plenipotentiary Maarten van Rooij.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister concluded his official visit to the Netherlands by attending the 200 years celebration of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
PHOTO CUTLINE: L to R: Prime Minister Marcel Gumbs signing the Parliament guestbook in the presence of the Dutch Second Chamber President of Parliament Anouchka van Miltenburg. Photo by Nico van der Ven
