THE HAGUE - Dutch Member of Parliament for the VVD part André Bosman (VVD) is a notorious critic of the financial policy of the governments of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. He responds critically to the requests for financial support from the countries.

“After ten years of insisting on my part on reforming public finances, diversifying the economy and tackling financial management, I regret to say that little has happened. Having your own finances in order within the Kingdom is also showing solidarity. Apparently, this solidarity is of a lesser order. Now the Dutch taxpayer, who has worked hard over the past decade to reduce government debt and reverse the budget deficit, has to pay again for countries that have not taken steps to put their finances in order.”

“And when I say this, I see the comments coming again. That I am hard-hearted, do not understand the islands, want to take over power and have no respect for the government of the countries. The latter is correct, by the way. After all, I see little or no movement to take steps to get finances on the right track.”

“And then the claim that all debt above 40 percent of GDP should be made as a gift. How does that work in Aruba? They have been at 80 percent in recent years and are now moving up to 130 percent. And promise that they have or will get the finances in order. That was already a promise under Eman I and II. Now that the Wever-Croes cabinet is at the helm, things really don't get any better. And whether the Dutch taxpayer just wants to pay, without conditions and as a gift.”

“Do I want to help? Hell yes! Am I going to help? Hell yes. But not without conditions and not without new agreements. As far as I am concerned, this is the end of the Statute. In crises, countries cannot live up to their autonomy and everything collapses. So, we will have to make new and firm agreements for the future. Agreements in which it is clear what the responsibility of the countries is. But it is crystal clear to me that the Statute must be different.”