THE HAGUE - The alarming situation in nursing homes in Curaçao is no reason for the Netherlands to intervene in the government of the island. State Secretary of Kingdom Relations Van Huffelen writes this after parliamentary questions from GroenLinks MP Kauthar Bouchallikht.
Earlier, it was reported that nursing homes in Curaçao also depend on donations to care for the elderly. The government gives so little subsidy that the elderly have to share their meals.
“It is not a good thing that people within the Kingdom live in nursing homes under such circumstances,” writes State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen. “That is also recognized in Curaçao and I care about that.”
The Dutch cabinet is taking 'several steps' to improve care on the island together with the Curaçao government.
Intervention from The Hague is out of the question
The Dutch cabinet shares GroenLinks' opinion that it is a human right. But the alarming situation in elderly care is no reason for The Hague to intervene in the governance of Curaçao now, says Van Huffelen.
In response to the news, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport made inquiries with the Curaçao Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature. Curaçao would have indicated that it is investigating the financial problems so that a structural solution can be found, Van Huffelen writes.
Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten – just like the Netherlands – are themselves responsible for respecting human rights, she writes. According to the state secretary, intervention 'only comes into the picture' as a last resort; if all responsible authorities of the island themselves do nothing about the problem.
'No funds requested from the Dutch government'
At the largest nursing home, Betèsda, no meals are shared, but that institution is also in great financial need. They are unable to obtain funds through Dutch institutions because Betèsda does not have a healthy financial situation, said director Dr. Natasja Rog. “Our budget is not balanced, we cannot meet our obligations.”
GroenLinks MP Bouchallikht wanted to know whether that request was also made in The Hague. “The government of the Netherlands has not been asked for financial support for this specific problem,” Van Huffelen responds.