News item | 07-03-2022 | 23:22
Improving living standards, caring for and protecting nature and the environment, and promoting good education and a more diverse economy. These are the main themes for State Secretary Alexandra Van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations that she will be working on in the coming years. In a letter sent today to the House of Representatives, she stated that cooperation on the basis of equality forms the basis of all her efforts.
In the letter, the State Secretary outlines the opportunities and challenges for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. From 11 to 24 February she visited all six islands. After these visits, she concluded that the islands each have their own needs and that a tailor-made approach is therefore required.
“The islands offer a great many opportunities if the residents are given the opportunity to seize them,” says the State Secretary. “I see it as my mission to support this. I want to work hard for that together with the administrators and residents of the Caribbean part of the kingdom. Of course also with respect for the autonomous position within that same kingdom.”
State Secretary Van Huffelen is initially concerned about the poverty she has seen on the islands. “Despite the efforts of previous cabinets, I have noticed that people on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius are not yet aware of this in their wallets.”
It has been agreed in the coalition agreement that EUR 30 million is structurally available for the Caribbean Netherlands, in addition to EUR 35 million for the conservation and restoration of nature.
As far as the State Secretary is concerned, central to the relationship with the countries Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten is cooperation on the basis of equality. “All three countries are fully part of the Kingdom and that is the foundation from which we work together for the future.”
Challenges facing the countries in this regard include increasing poverty, a lack of implementation capacity and a rule of law that needs strengthening. “These are serious challenges for which we must use the power of the Kingdom. It is up to the countries to work on solutions, but they are not alone. This also means that we are committed to sound and honest governance that is committed to safeguarding human rights.”
The intention is to further elaborate the plans from the outline letter in the coming months, together with the islands and the ministries involved. The House will receive the result before the summer.