News item | 17-06-2022 | 15:00
State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen and the Executive Council of Bonaire have agreed administrative working agreements on Thursday, June 16. The agreements run until the March 2023 elections and build on previous agreements. The cabinet is making extra money available to implement the agreements.
State Secretary Van Huffelen is pleased with the agreements made. “The administrative working agreements have been established in an intensive collaboration between the public body and various departments, which has resulted in a nice mix of actions that make a visible difference for the residents of Bonaire.”
Lieutenant Governor Edison Rijna further explains: “We are very pleased with the active attitude and additional resources deployed by the State. As an island, we don’t just want to look to the government to achieve results for the inhabitants, but Bonaire wants to do this more and more independently. With the new agreements, we will continue to build on the sustainable development of Bonaire and the further professionalization of the Public Entity Bonaire.”
The working agreements include programs that arise from the EUR 30 million that the government is making structurally available for the Caribbean Netherlands through the Coalition Agreement. For example, 2.2 million euros is available for eliminating backlogs, 1.7 million euros for strengthening the executive capacity of the Public Entity, 1.4 million for developing neighborhoods and 1 million for job placement.
The spearhead of all administrative working agreements is that noticeable improvements are realized for the residents of Bonaire. In addition to attention for administrative and executive capacity, the social agenda (with a focus on tackling poverty) and commitment to spatial and economic development, agreements have also been made about a new library and youth participation will be used to encourage young people to participate (politically) in for the development of Bonaire.
The ambition is to conclude a longer-term agreement with the newly appointed Executive Council and the new Island Council after the elections. The current agreements are in line with the 2018-2022 Administrative Agreement, with which good results have been achieved. Key positions within the Public Entity Bonaire have been filled, training programs have been set up and twinning initiatives have been started with municipalities in the European Netherlands. The job center has been completed, steps are being taken to improve childcare, the renovation of the major roads is in full swing and the range of social rental housing is being expanded.
In addition, agreements have already been made for the annual increase in the minimum wage, with the aim of achieving the benchmark social minimum in 2025, there is a proportional increase in the minimum benefits, an increase in child benefit, a structural effort to reduce the costs for drinking water and the internet, and there is a local poverty policy aimed at, among other things, debt counseling and improving opportunities on the labor market.