Wescot-Williams dubbed the “Queen of IPKO”, urged IPKO not to let its conclusions “Die a Natural Death”

THE HAGUE--St. Maarten delegation leader and Chairlady of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams closed the June 2026 Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation, IPKO, in The Hague on Monday with a call for stronger follow-up, broader public participation and real implementation of the agreements reached during three days of discussions.

Speaking at the closing session, Wescot-Williams said the June IPKO had been successful and thanked the Netherlands as host country, the chairlady of the consultation and the delegations from Aruba, Curaçao and the Netherlands for the manner in which the discussions were conducted. She said the meeting reflected a new approach to IPKO, one focused on decision-making, results and continuity.

According to Wescot-Williams, the goal of reviewing the IPKO process is to ensure that important matters are not lost between meetings. She said the St. Maarten delegation welcomed the steps taken in The Hague toward a more results-oriented format.

“As I mentioned, we have started with another approach towards IPKO, one that looks at decision-making, results-oriented, and more participation from all of the people of the Kingdom,” Wescot-Williams said.

She said one of the main takeaways from the meeting was that the issue of the slavery past, while delicate in some settings, was addressed openly. The three Caribbean countries, through their Dutch counterparts, were able to present a resolution regarding their position on how the Kingdom, through a representative, handled the recent United Nations vote on slavery.

Wescot-Williams said the matter had to be addressed and was discussed with openness and respect for the positions of all parties. She added that the discussion showed why consultation within the Kingdom remains important, particularly on issues that are sensitive, emotional and historically significant.

The main theme of the June IPKO was cooperation in the Kingdom and cooperation within IPKO. Wescot-Williams said the discussions made clear that this theme is broad and touches many areas. She said the delegations were able to discuss cooperation from a general perspective, with the aim of narrowing future discussions to more specific matters.

She expressed hope that future IPKO meetings will allow delegations to continue these conversations in the same open, frank and transparent manner seen in The Hague.

The St. Maarten delegation leader also pointed to several presentations delivered during the consultation, including those addressing public participation. She said the involvement of the people, or “burgerparticipatie,” stood out as an important theme.

Wescot-Williams said St. Maarten also took note of critical views expressed during the presentations on matters related to the country. She said the delegation had heard those comments and decided that they are issues St. Maarten must examine closely.

She also addressed the proposed Kingdom Conference, noting that the matter has been raised in previous IPKO meetings and is not new. Wescot-Williams said all IPKO partners hope the conference can take place this year, with St. Maarten expected to host it if everything proceeds according to plan.

She stressed that a Kingdom Conference is not the same as regular administrative consultation. In the constitutional structure of the Kingdom, she said, such a conference has a specific meaning. The Parliaments of the Kingdom want the governments to consider what role and position the Parliaments should have in that process.

The democratic deficit was also identified as one of the key issues discussed. Wescot-Williams said the topic has been talked about for many years, but that this IPKO wants to see actual steps taken.

She also mentioned aging and climate change as matters that stood out during the discussions. However, she said the conversations on these topics are far from over and are expected to continue at the next IPKO, scheduled to take place in St. Maarten in January 2027.

In her closing words on behalf of the St. Maarten delegation and the Parliament of St. Maarten, Wescot-Williams said the three days of discussions had been intensive, but meaningful. She said the delegations did not shy away from placing the issues that truly matter on the agenda.

She said the theme of cooperation in the Kingdom is wide, sensitive and emotional, but also made clear that all countries want to work on improving the Kingdom relationship, especially in areas where there is pain.

Because of the new approach to IPKO, Wescot-Williams said the St. Maarten delegation wants to see more public involvement in the discussions. She said it is important not only for people to hear presentations, but also for the representatives of the people throughout the Kingdom to hear public views on the issues being discussed.

She welcomed the intention to increase public participation, especially among young people throughout the Kingdom, saying this is important for the continuation and sustainability of IPKO.

Wescot-Williams said firm conclusions were reached during the IPKO in The Hague, but noted that this is not the first time conclusions have been made at such meetings. The difference, she said, must now be in the follow-through.

“We have made some firm conclusions from this IPKO gathering here in The Hague, but it is not the first time that we have made conclusions,” she said. “Let the conviction of this IPKO be not to leave those conclusions die a natural death.”

She called on all delegations to take responsibility for the execution and implementation of the agreements made, while continuing to respect each country’s positions and sensitivities.

Wescot-Williams also invited the delegations to St. Maarten for the next IPKO in January 2027, urging those not yet on their delegation lists to make sure they are included.

Dutch delegation leader Peter Nicolaï also reflected positively on the IPKO, saying the three days gave the delegations a stronger sense that they belong to one family within the Kingdom.

Nicolaï said that, of all the IPKO meetings he had attended, this one left him with the clearest impression of the countries sitting together at one “family table.” He said the discussions showed that the parliamentary platform itself can function as a kind of Kingdom parliament by bringing elected representatives together regularly to speak openly and strengthen the Kingdom relationship.

He thanked the IPKO chairlady, Anouschka Biekman, for her leadership, saying participants felt at home during the meeting. He also praised Wescot-Williams for her role in developing the new approach for IPKO.

Nicolaï referred to Wescot-Williams as the “queen of IPKO,” saying she had managed to give shape to the way the platform should move forward after previous years in which IPKO had struggled to find its way on follow-up and structure.

Nicolaï said Wescot-Williams had helped give shape to a path forward after years in which IPKO had struggled to find its way on follow-up and structure. He said the framework she placed on paper must now be implemented.

He also referred to the presence of State Secretary Eric van der Burg, describing it as unique and as a first step toward deeper engagement. Nicolaï said that while the exact nature of the exchange could be described in different ways, the important point was that the State Secretary was present. He expressed hope that the next step would be a full and genuine conversation.

Nicolaï said the delegations had held uncomfortable but meaningful discussions, including conversations that touched on personal experiences. He said such exchanges helped strengthen the sense of family within the Kingdom and should be carried forward with positivity.

Wescot-Williams and Nicolaï both closed by thanking the delegations, staff and organizers who contributed to the June 2026 IPKO. The next IPKO is expected to be held in St. Maarten in January 2027, where delegations are expected to report back on the follow-up to the conclusions reached in The Hague.

Photo Caption: Chairlady of Parliament MP Sarah Wescot-Williams and Dutch delegation leader MP Peter Nicolaï.

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