WILLEMSTAD - The financial supervisor for Curaçao and Sint Maarten, the Financial Supervision Council (Cft), advises the Dutch government to lend Curaçao 177 million guilders (90 million euros) in the context of the corona crisis. That is less than what Curaçao had asked for. These funds are intended to be able to take measures to maintain employment between April 1 and mid-May, according to a letter sent by the Cft on Tuesday.

Curaçao wants to introduce an emergency package of social measures and has requested 380 million guilders (195 million euros) from the Dutch cabinet for the months of April, May and June. The country also wants financial aid for the expected contraction of the economy in that period. This concerns 315 million guilders (161 million euros).

The Dutch government has asked the Cft to provide advice on those requests from Curaçao. The Kingdom Council of Ministers will meet on this on Thursday. Requests for help from Sint Maarten and Aruba are also on the table.

Shortly after these letters were sent, the Caribbean members of the Financial Supervision Board for Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Aruba Financial Supervision Board distanced themselves from them. According to the three members on behalf of Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten, their advice and suggestions have been rejected by President Raymond Gradus of the committee.

They blame him for lack of solidarity. Gradus' advice is said to be "too focused on the financial situation and not taking into account the social and economic consequences" on the islands.