WILLEMSTAD – A recent email sent by the Dutch education agency DUO to former students in Curaçao with outstanding study debts has sparked widespread criticism, with many recipients describing the message as threatening and intimidating.
The email invites former students to attend a personal meeting on the island, but its wording has raised concerns. It states that part of a recipient’s salary may already be withheld—or could soon be—and warns that debts may continue to increase and incur additional costs if no contact is made.
Many recipients have reacted negatively, saying the tone creates fear and pressure rather than offering support or constructive solutions.
DUO maintains that the purpose of the communication is to encourage dialogue and help prevent further financial problems. The meetings are scheduled to take place in April at the agency’s service office on Hoogstraat in Otrobanda.
The issue highlights a broader challenge in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, where former students face relatively high study debts and significant repayment arrears. In 2022, nearly 10,000 former students in the region were behind on their payments.
The situation is particularly severe in Sint Maarten, where the average arrears amount to €13,630 and approximately 75 percent of borrowers have fallen behind. On other islands, including Curaçao and Aruba, between 62 and 70 percent of borrowers are in arrears.
By comparison, only 16 percent of borrowers in the Netherlands are behind on repayments, with an average arrears amount of around €2,300.
In addition, the overall debt burden in the Caribbean is significantly higher, with DUO seeking to recover an average of approximately €30,000 per borrower in Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten.
The controversy surrounding the email has reignited debate over how debt collection is handled in the Caribbean and whether a more supportive, tailored approach is needed for former students in the region.