Opening of border between Curaçao and Venezuela will take time

WILLEMSTAD - According to Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath, the Curaçao government wants to cooperate in a phased and controlled opening of the borders with Venezuela. Discussions about this have taken place with the Venezuelan authorities. The proposal has also been coordinated with the Government of Aruba and the Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok.

With regard to Curaçao, the borders between Venezuela and the islands are being opened in phases. This is to prevent that the flow of migrants without documents from the country increases enormously in a short time. The idea is that first maritime traffic between countries is opened up and later air traffic is again possible. The discussions on this are now being continued "at technical level".

Rhuggenaath said that his government will continue to coordinate the matter with the kingdom partners, due to the constantly changing circumstances. It also seems that there have been more illegal migrants lately.

Venezuela has announced through a diplomatic note that it is prepared to reopen its borders with Curaçao for the movement of people and goods. The Curacao government has responded to being part of the Kingdom and that the decision should also apply to Aruba and Bonaire.

In May of this year, Venezuela announced that it would reopen the border with Aruba, but keep it closed with Curaçao. Aruba then decided to extend the border closure in order to get a grip on the flow of migrants.




Share