WILLEMSTAD - The proposal presented by the Director of the government-owned company Refineria di Korsou (RdK) was rejected by the unions representing the refinery employees.

Last night during a press conference called by the Prime Minister of Curaçao Eugene Rhuggenaath and the RdK Director Marcelino Delannooy, the proposal was presented to the public. This proposal basically entails that all employees of Isla are offered an employment contract. This will take place through the Curaçao Refinery Utility (CRU). CRU offers work and income to all refinery employees under the same conditions for a transition period of six months.

This plan - which was called plan B by Premier Rhuggenaath- was rejected by the employees and therefore by their unions. They impose de facto the same requirement as PdVSA, namely a transition period of twelve months.

Prime Minister Rhuggenaath does not understand the rejection by the unions; “this plan B is good and especially for the benefit of the employees and the Curaçao economy. If the interests of another country are served, then this must be strongly rejected.”

The prime minister and also the union leaders spoke yesterday afternoon in Fort Amsterdam about a good conversation in a pleasant atmosphere. Last night Rhuggenaath announced that the government will not give in and will continue to do its utmost to have the best solution for the Curacao community. "The government will do everything in its power to achieve a transition period that is as peaceful as possible," said the prime minister.