WILLEMSTAD - The government of Curaçao has offered Venezuela a date to reopen the borders. On April 3, the borders between the two countries should be open again for both maritime traffic and the aviation sector.  

In the coming period, Curaçao will be in talks with Venezuela to finalize the last details and conditions. It is not clear what those conditions are.  

There have been three official consultations between Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands and Venezuela. Venezuela closed its borders with Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao in February 2019.  

Aruba is currently taking a wait-and-see attitude. Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes has so far prevented reopening because of illegal immigration to the island. 

Smuggling and relief goods 

In 2018, the border between Venezuela and Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire was closed for three months. The reason then, according to President Maduro, was that the islands did not act against the smuggling of gold, copper and other raw materials from his country.  

In 2019, the border closed again when the United States, Curaçao and the Netherlands intended to send relief supplies from Curaçao to Venezuela.  

With an opening in April, the wish of Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has come true to regain quick access to the Venezuelan fruit and vegetable market via the boats in Willemstad. He previously clarified that reopening the borders to boats with fresh produce was not only important to reduce the high cost of food, but also crucial to restore air traffic with Venezuela so that people can travel back to their country.