THE HAGUE - The Party for Freedom (PVV), the largest political party in the Netherlands, claims that the recent arrest of Aruban Minister Glenbert Croes reveals the "widespread corruption" and integrity violations in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. PVV MP Peter van Haasen expressed this view today, stating that the Netherlands is repeatedly confronted with the reality of corruption on the Caribbean islands.
Minister Croes was arrested this week on suspicion of fraud related to permits. According to Van Haasen, this arrest serves as another example of the ongoing integrity issues in the region. He emphasized that these incidents demonstrate the deep-rooted nature of corruption in the autonomous territories of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten.
Last month, Van Haasen raised questions with State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó regarding political instability and corruption in the Caribbean. He asked Szabó whether the Dutch government should play a more active role in monitoring corruption and integrity in the autonomous countries, using the same standards as Transparency International. Van Haasen also inquired whether Szabó is aware of the political instability and widespread corruption affecting Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten.
The PVV has long been critical of the governance in the Caribbean territories, and Croes' arrest has fueled the party's ongoing concerns about the need for stricter oversight and intervention from the Dutch government to address corruption in the region.