WILLEMSTAD – Dutch Member of Parliament Aukje de Vries (VVD) is calling on the autonomous countries within the Kingdom—Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten—to take greater financial responsibility for economic support programs such as the BMKB scheme, which facilitates easier access to loans for small and medium-sized enterprises through government guarantees. 

The scheme is expected to be extended to the islands by the end of 2025, providing local businesses with the same financial support mechanisms available in the European Netherlands. However, De Vries emphasized that the Netherlands should not continue to contribute structurally to such support. In her view, the governments of the Caribbean countries must take ownership of their economic development. 

Her stance contrasts with that of State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó (PVV), who stated that the BMKB scheme will be evaluated in 2027, at which time its future funding will also be assessed. 

The remarks from both officials are at odds with earlier statements by Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Beljaarts (also PVV), who indicated that the BMKB scheme has no expiration date and will not be subject to an evaluation. “This scheme is here to stay,” Beljaarts said.  

De Vries also addressed the SDE++ fund, which supports renewable energy projects, stating that if the Caribbean countries wish to benefit from it, they must also contribute financially. Currently, the fund is largely financed by energy consumers in the Netherlands. 

The discussion reflects a broader push within Dutch politics for greater financial independence of the Caribbean countries within the Kingdom. As the Netherlands re-evaluates its long-term role in supporting the islands, calls for shared responsibility and fiscal accountability are becoming increasingly prominent in The Hague.