THE HAGUE - Member of Parliament for the MFK party Amerigo Thodé appealed to the Netherlands on Thursday to assist in easing and ultimately lifting the economic sanctions imposed on Venezuela.
Thodé made this plea during the opening of a five-day meeting between delegations from the parliaments of the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten (IPKO) held in The Hague. Thodé serves as the chairman of the Kingdom Relations Committee of the Curaçao parliament.
In early April, Curaçao opened its air and sea borders with Venezuela for the first time in four years. The two countries, located just 75 kilometers apart, share a centuries-old trading tradition.
However, the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Venezuela in 2019 due to the ongoing political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis have made trade extremely challenging.
Many EU countries, including the Netherlands, refuse to recognize Venezuelan president-elect Nicolas Maduro due to fraudulent presidential elections.
Thodé pointed out in The Hague that while the United States has also imposed sanctions on Venezuela, it continues to engage in business ventures, particularly in the oil sector. He is now seeking support from the Netherlands, which is responsible for the foreign policy of the entire Kingdom, to facilitate trade relations.
"If you are unable to assist us immediately, we request that you do not impede our efforts," stated Thodé. Since the reopening of the borders in early April, Venezuelan boats carrying fruits and vegetables have once again been arriving at the port of Curaçao. Thodé emphasizes that increased trade with Venezuela is vital for the further economic growth of Curaçao.