THE HAGUE - The Netherlands and the islands must focus on the things they do agree with when they talk to each other about the corona crisis. King Willem-Alexander makes this appeal to all politicians in our Kingdom in his speech from the throne.
Every year on the third Tuesday of September, the parliamentary year of the Netherlands is opened with the traditional speech of the king. This time about the islands, it's about the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.
“In the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, life has become more difficult for many people due to corona, because the island economy has been hit hard by the huge decline in tourism.”
In the past year there was a lot of arguing between The Hague and the autonomous islands of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten about the 'strict' conditions for hundreds of millions in emergency loans. They have accused the Netherlands, among other things, of 'coercion' and 'colonial attitude'.
“For Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, together the Caribbean Netherlands, economic support measures apply similar to those in our country. Agreements have been made with the countries Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten to ensure that financial support leads to an economy that is more resilient and more shock-resistant.”
“In the discussion about this, it is important to always seek consensus. That makes us stronger as a Kingdom as a whole”, is his message that he gives as head of state in the speech from the throne.
Climate change 'most pressing topic'
The biggest political challenge will be climate change. “Of the subjects that transcend both the boundaries of a government term and our national borders, climate change is without doubt the most urgent,” said King Willem-Alexander.
“That affects our safety, nature and living environment, but also, for example, the global poverty issue and future migration flows.”
In June, the IPCC announced that climate change is much faster and that the situation is much more serious than previously thought. Temperatures and sea levels are rising much faster. The consequences for humanity are more serious than foreseen, is the conclusion. Thousands of international climate studies have been analyzed over the past 8 years.
An extra seven billion euros has been reserved for the Netherlands. It is striking that the king – on behalf of the government of outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte – does not say a word about climate change in the Caribbean parts of the kingdom.
“In the Netherlands, protection against flooding is of course the top priority. The large-scale flooding in Limburg is a reason for the government to re-examine all planned measures in consultation and to see whether and where acceleration is necessary.”
