THE HAGUE - The ChristenUnie's election program "New Connectedness" emphasizes the deep bond between European Netherlands, Caribbean Netherlands, and the other countries in the Kingdom. They aim to better recognize this unique relationship and work together with mutual involvement, solidarity, and reciprocal respect to find good solutions for the specific social issues on the islands. They stress that there is a special responsibility for the three special Dutch municipalities, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba are part of the Netherlands, but the residents of these three islands, collectively known as Caribbean Netherlands, are not always treated the same as residents of European Netherlands. There is a weaker social safety net for BES residents, more poverty, and basic issues like a BSN (Citizen Service Number) are not well organized. Often, the residents of Caribbean Netherlands are overlooked when it comes to new laws or policies. The government should serve the entire society, including the BES islands, and this begins with an adequate social minimum.
Some of the key points in their program related to this issue include:
Ensuring people have enough income to make ends meet, raising the incomes of workers, welfare recipients, and pensioners so they can afford food and provide for themselves.
Introducing a WW (Unemployment Benefits) scheme in the BES islands and striving to align the social assistance (welfare) and AOV (AOW, old-age pension) benefits with the regulations in European Netherlands.
Overall, the ChristenUnie is advocating for measures to improve the social and economic well-being of residents in Caribbean Netherlands and recognizing the specific challenges they face.
• Reduce the cost of living. Living on an island is expensive. Therefore, the Netherlands is working on reducing the costs of food, electricity, internet, and water, also by supporting local energy generation, local food supply, and local entrepreneurship. They are also critically examining double import tariffs that unnecessarily increase the cost of living.
• Choose for children. The care for children and support for parents are not always well-organized. Combating child poverty is also a priority in the BES. There will be better care for children with disabilities, and a Youth Law will be introduced for the BES. Childcare in the BES will be completely free. Fathers have the right to the same parental leave as in the Netherlands.
• Assist young parents. Many pregnancies are terminated prematurely with an abortion in the BES islands. It is sad that many women see this as their only way out. The Christian Union wants better support for young parents and a diverse range of help for pregnant women. Sexual education appropriate to the context of communities can also help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies.
• Equality as a starting point. New policies and laws must also apply to the Caribbean Netherlands. Exceptions will only be made if it aligns with the wishes of the island governments themselves, such as when legislation is less suitable for the scale or cultural context of the islands.
• Provide residents of the Caribbean Netherlands with a Citizen Service Number (BSN). A BSN number is essential for participating in Dutch society. Legislation should be expedited to provide residents of the BES with a BSN number.
• Help the BES islands become resilient to climate change. The residents of the BES islands and the environment are highly vulnerable to the consequences of climate change. Therefore, the Netherlands is investing in climate adaptation and nature restoration.
• Forensic care facilities in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. Forensic care in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is not well-organized. This leads to dangerous situations on the islands and in some cases also in mainland Netherlands. The Netherlands is working on improving forensic facilities, such as establishing a forensic institution for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom.
Connected with Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten
Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten - the CAS countries - are a special part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As countries within the Kingdom, they are autonomous but connected to the Netherlands. Mutual connection within the Kingdom means that countries support each other, respecting their own language, culture, and traditions, and continue to invest in mutual trust and empathy. This also requires attention to the wounds left by the colonial relationship and the history of slavery.
• Work towards equitable relationships. The relationships between countries in the Kingdom are not always equitable, such as in the case of new laws that apply to the entire Kingdom. The Netherlands will engage in discussions with the CAS countries to address this democratic deficit.
• Create a Kingdom Canon together. The Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba have a complex history marked by centuries of inequality and oppression. To provide a place for this shared history and to remember it, a Kingdom Canon will be developed collectively.
• Strengthen the democratic rule of law in the islands. In the Kingdom, the countries work together to strengthen human rights and freedoms, legal certainty, and good governance. Ensuring and enhancing the democratic rule of law remains a crucial principle in budgetary and financial support agreements.
• Combat the gambling mafia. The gambling industry, especially in Curaçao, undermines the rule of law and public administration. Therefore, particular attention is given to reducing illicit gambling companies operating through the islands and addressing Russian shell companies in financial support to the CAS countries.
• Strong together against human trafficking. The Netherlands collaborates with the islands in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom to develop a joint approach to combat human trafficking. The mandate of the National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings will be expanded for this purpose, at least to include the BES islands. The Netherlands also supports the CAS countries in improving the care for victims of human trafficking.