WILLEMSTAD - The Curaçao government has reached "a balanced result" with the Netherlands on the conditions that the Netherlands sets for the granting of corona loans. Most important victories for Curaçao: the Caribbean Reform Entity (CHE) gets less power and the goal is not only to economize but also to invest in development.
This is evident from the letter from Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath in which he informs parliament about the results of the negotiations with the Netherlands.
It mainly revolved around the powers that the Netherlands wanted to give to CHE. That was a serious violation of autonomy because government and parliament are being sidelined, the Curaçao government concluded. But that has changed in the new proposal, it now appears.
“No takeover of legislative and administrative powers. The intention is that the entity will work for and with Curaçao, it is envisaged that frequent consultations will be held with the government of Curaçao,” said Rhuggenaath.
It means that the reforms requiring new laws and regulations must first get the green light from the Curaçao parliament. Another important victory is that the emphasis is no longer just on reform (especially cutbacks). The Netherlands will co-invest in the island's economy, including in good education and accessible care, says Rhuggenaath. "The Netherlands has explicitly committed itself to this."
The entity may therefore use money from the corona loans spent on projects and programs, but as long as it does not affect the power of the Curaçao government bodies. Furthermore, the board will no longer consist only of Dutch people appointed by the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. The appointment of one of the three board members will soon be in consultation with the Prime Minister of Curaçao.
So that the board of the entity is "representative of Curaçao and has an affinity with the Caribbean part of the Kingdom," said Rhuggenaath.
Throughout the letter, the Prime Minister refers to the "body for reform and development" instead of CHE. There are several indications that CHE will no longer be the name, in addition to the expectation that the Curaçao government will soon sign the political agreement with the Netherlands. After which the proposal must also go to the Council of State for advice. And then the move is up to the Curaçao parliament.
Parliament can still disapprove the consensus kingdom law in which the entity is regulated. But as soon as the political agreement has been signed, we will start preparations, says Rhuggenaath.
It has also been agreed that the law will end sooner, after six years. And after three years there is an evaluation by an independent committee. If Curaçao and the Netherlands both agree, the law and the entity can therefore also be ended earlier.
