The Plenipotentiary Minister for Curaçao, Anthony Begina, says he is pleased with the efforts of Dutch soldiers to restore peace on the island. But he is also critical, because according to Begina, the Netherlands shows too little understanding of the situation the island is in.
Curaçao has been hit hard by the corona crisis, has to deal with a collapsing oil industry and is home to tens of thousands of Venezuelan refugees. “There is a very large group that is currently very difficult. We are not a country with a lot of financial opportunities to support everything and everyone. I expect the Netherlands to show a bit more empathy with what we are experience the moment. “
Reforms
Curaçao has been completely dependent on the Netherlands since the arrival of Corona. However, in order to qualify for a package of corona support, the island must meet strict conditions. For example, the Netherlands requires that politicians, civil servants and administrators of public companies surrender part of their salary.
According to Begina, the Netherlands wants those reforms far too quickly: “We also have unions in Curaçao, we also have employment contracts and a collective labor agreement. You should be able to prepare and explain those reforms well, but we were not granted that time.” According to the Minister Plenipotentiary, the pressure this entails is one of the reasons that people take to the streets angrily.
The Dutch military personnel who have been deployed in Curaçao to maintain public order are part of the army. According to Defense Minister Bijleveld, they are mainly concerned with guarding vital buildings so that the Curaçao police have their hands free. Next Friday, the cabinet will announce whether Curaçao will receive further support and, if so, which.
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