WILLEMSTAD - In December 2022, Minister Ruisandro Cijntje, together with the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO), temporarily reintroduced the Basic Basket 2012 agreement. This was done through a Ministerial Agreement and was initially intended to last for a period of six (6) months. During these six months, an evaluation took place, and after that, the aforementioned Ministerial Agreement was extended for an additional three (3) months.
During the six-month period, Minister Cijntje established a Task Force responsible for conducting a thorough investigation into the efficiency and effectiveness of the Basic Basket and the possibilities for potential alternatives. This investigation is progressing but is not yet advanced enough to draw conclusions on the matter. Moreover, there are legal aspects in the process that need to be taken into account and require time.
Meanwhile, the focus and duty of the Government remain ensuring that our community has free and fair access to vital products, both with the current Agreement and with any conclusions that the Task Force may derive from their investigation. The Basic Basket 2012 agreement includes products such as rice, milk, bread, and some fruits and vegetables. The agreement in its entirety is available on the government's website for anyone who wishes to take note of it.