ORANJESTAD - The Aruban government has decided that the borders with Venezuela will not be opened for the time being. A period of another three months has been agreed for this. Venezuela closed its borders with Aruba in February 2019. In May of that year, the regime in Caracas wanted to reopen the borders, but Aruba did not agree. Initially, closure was announced for a month, but then followed by a three-month extension. According to Prime Minister of Aruba Evelyn Wever-Croes, Aruba is still insufficiently prepared for a possible influx of Venezuelan citizens and therefore the border remains closed.

Wever-Croes states: “At the moment Aruba is facing major challenges that demand all of our energy. That is our priority.” The risk of the coronavirus also plays a role. The government first wants a good picture of how the Venezuelan government is tackling this crisis, before the border opens and contaminated people may come to Aruba.

The government in Curaçao has not said anything yet about opening the borders with Venezuela but both parties indicated that they are interested in seeing this happening soon.