Working together for a new step in Kingdom relations
Improving the standard of living, caring for and protecting nature and the environment, and working on good education and a more diverse economy. These are the main themes that State Secretary Alexandra Van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations will be working on in the coming years. In a letter sent to the House of Representatives today, she states that cooperation on the basis of equality is the starting point of all her efforts.
In the letter, the State Secretary outlines the opportunities and challenges for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. She visited all six islands from the 11th to the 24th of February. After these visits, she concluded that the islands each have their own needs and that a tailor-made approach is therefore necessary.
"The islands offer a lot of opportunities if the inhabitants gets the chance to seize them", says the State Secretary. "I see it as my task to support this. Together with the administrators and inhabitants of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, I want to work hard for that. 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 see that the people of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius still do not notice this enough in their wallets."
In the coalition agreement, it has been agreed that 30 million euros will be structurally available for the Dutch Caribbean, in addition to 35 million euros for the preservation and restoration of nature.
Central to the relationship with the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and St. Maarten, as far as the State Secretary is concerned, is cooperation based on equality. "All three countries are full members of the Kingdom and that is the foundation from which we are working together for the future."
Challenges the countries face in this regard include increasing poverty, lack of implementation power and a rule of law that needs strengthening. "These are tough challenges for which we need to use the strength of the Kingdom. It is up to the countries to find solutions, but they are not alone. That 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 together with the islands and the ministries involved in the coming months. The Chamber will receive the result of this before the summer.