THE HAGUE - During the debate on the Kingdom Relations budget, several Dutch Parliament members expressed their concerns yesterday about the ongoing corruption in the Caribbean islands. They called for stricter enforcement and harsher measures against officials involved in corruption and fraud.
Aukje de Vries from the VVD emphasized that good governance is a key principle for her party and voiced her concerns about the instability of the island governments and the frequent corruption scandals. She pointed to the recent arrest of Aruban Minister Glenbert Croes and the prior convictions of former Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte and Sint Maarten's MP Theo Heyliger. “The VVD wants good governance for the islanders, a government that serves its people rather than itself,” De Vries stressed, calling for a tougher stance on undermining criminality and more investment in the law enforcement chain.
Peter van Haasen from the PVV warned that corruption undermines the rule of law and public trust. He criticized the continuous reports of officials involved in fraud and bribery. “Corruption should never be dismissed as part of Caribbean culture. That is totally unacceptable,” Van Haasen stated, urging for strict measures against corrupt officials to ensure social stability and justice on the islands.
Raoul White from GroenLinks-PvdA echoed this sentiment, stressing that the government must take responsibility in strengthening good governance. He noted that citizens often feel that the political and financial elites escape accountability. “People feel that elites are protected while the small ones are punished. This severely damages trust in the government,” White said, advocating for concrete measures to promote equality within the Kingdom.
The Parliament was united in its call: an effective crackdown on corruption is essential to restore public trust and ensure governmental integrity in the Caribbean islands. The cabinet was tasked with providing financial and technical support to the law enforcement agencies on the islands to effectively combat corruption.
