'Principles of the rule of law: proper law enforcement and good governance'

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great honour for me to be speaking to you today in this historic Courthouse - an establishment dedicated to the pursuit of Justice.

In keeping with the style and theme of this location I would like to speak to you today about the principles of the rule of law: effective law enforcement and good governance.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands is changing. If the agreed criteria are met, St Maarten will acquire country status within the Kingdom. The process of constitutional reform is not easy. It requires time, mutual understanding, energy and precision. But everyone agrees on the ultimate goal: a bright future for the residents of these islands - and that includes St Maarten.

I envisage a society that offers equal opportunities, where everybody has the chance to develop their full potential, from the chambermaid's son to the bank manager's daughter. A dynamic society engaged in trade and enterprise and attracting a steady stream of foreign investment. An island where tourists have the time of their lives. A place where government and citizens join hands and work together to build a country that is famous for its solidarity, prosperity and respect - a society that is free from the clutches of corruption and crime. A society full of hope and trust.

To be frank, we are not there yet. We still have a long way to go to achieve this ideal. Anyone who has read the recent report 'Organised Crime and Law Enforcement on St Maarten' by the Research and Documentation Centre would have to agree with me.

For instance, the report describes international drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering. The researchers concluded that the lack of appropriate checks and balances on the island is creating a culture of enabling that facilitates a range of criminal activities.

I am glad that Ank Bijleveld (the State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations), the governing body and the country itself concluded that it is high time to tackle the problems, and that this is a joint responsibility.

To be able to look to the future with confidence, St Maarten needs not only vigorous and reliable governance but also an effective system for preventing, detecting and investigating crime and enforcing the rule of law. Effective cooperation between the various services, high-value knowledge and capable staff will be indispensable.

That will pave the way to a healthy, hopeful future for the residents of St Maarten. It is the foundation for healthy economic development.

There's no hope without trust, and trust is built on the principles of the rule of law, on a system of rules, effective enforcement and ethical government.

It's time to put our shoulders to the wheel and work hard for the constitutional change that you all want so much. Unless things change, there will be no positive future to look forward to. The only way to attract foreign investors and tourists is to demonstrate integrity and transparency and to take a tough line on corruption and fraud. Unless there is visible improvement, the process of constitutional reform will stagnate. And until St Maarten makes significant progress in law enforcement, the administration of justice and good governance, it will not attain country status.

Both Ms Westcott and I are strongly committed to fulfilling the joint agreements that have been made and set down in the past, time and again. In the coalition agreement of 22 October 2005, the Final Declaration of the Start Round Table Conference on 26 November 2005, and the Final Declaration of 2 November 2006.

The Netherlands is committed to seeing these agreements fulfilled, and St Maarten cannot ignore them.

That is why I am making an urgent appeal to everyone on St Maarten to take up the challenge. Do everything you can to make the police and criminal investigation services efficient, authoritative and strong. Play your part in keeping the agreements aimed at ensuring an effective public prosecution service. And work together to create a public administration that is incorruptible, decisive and ethical.

This is not just about formal responsibility. It is also about moral responsibility.

The Netherlands is taking up its responsibility. For instance, we have set up the Netherlands Antilles Security Plan. We have made people and resources available to improve the police service here and to strengthen law enforcement on St Maarten. And we have sought solutions.

But the primary responsibility lies with the Netherlands Antilles and with St Maarten. Don't walk away from your responsibilities. Be bold. For the sake of your society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The children of this island have a right to a secure future with equal opportunities for everyone. A future that is full of trust and full of hope. Creating hope is a responsibility we all share and it requires a lot of extremely hard work. And it has to start today. The road is long. But our ultimate goal - a bright future for the residents of this beautiful island - is worth all the effort.