THE HAGUE - The Dutch Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party Ronald van Raak has asked questions to the Undersecretary of the Interior and Kingdom Relations about freedom of the press in Curaçao. This after a small incident yesterday during the press conference between Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath and three Dutch reporters.

The topic of the press conference was education and the reopening of the schools. But the three reporters wanted to ask questions about different topics such as the payment of wage increase to the civil servants. The Prime Minister did answer them but the moderator reminded these reporters that the topic of the press conference was education and that they should only ask questions about that.

The reporters felt that they are given little space to ask questions during press conferences. One of the reporters, Dick Drayer said “Nobody is going to shut me up and that's how it feels right now.”

Van Raaks questions to Undersecretary Knops:

1 What is your response to complaints from journalists about the restriction of freedom of the press in Curaçao during corona times?

2 Do you share my view that, especially in times of crisis, the free media have an important controlling role?

3 Do you share my view that this should apply to all countries of the Kingdom and therefore also to the country of Curaçao?

4 Do you share my view that financial support to Curaçao may be accompanied by demands for freedom of the press?

5 Are you willing to answer these questions before the debate on Wednesday 20 May on financial aid to Curaçao?