Speaking at the weekly press conference this week, Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams stated that a proposal for the different countries to chair the various work groups has been made and agreed to.

It now means that St. Maarten has the responsibility to chair the work group in cooperation within the Kingdom and the establishment of a Kingdom Secretariat.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that a formal response has been sent to the Minister for Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations, Mrs. J. Spies regarding St. Maarten's membership in the Kingdom commissions as agreed to during the Kingdom Conference of December 2011.

St. Maarten has opted to coordinate the workings of these commissions with those established by St. Maarten as part of the Arikok Agreement.

The Arikok Agreement consists of agreements between the Prime Ministers of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten regarding new and more areas of cooperation between these three countries.

The Department of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations of St. Maarten will act as support for these commissions.