THE HAGUE – Remarks made by Dutch Member of Parliament Elmar Vlottes of the PVV during a parliamentary debate in The Hague have drawn criticism after he suggested that the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands contribute little and frequently rely on financial support from the Netherlands.
Speaking during a legislative consultation of the Dutch House of Representatives' Kingdom Relations Committee, Vlottes questioned the need to expand the island councils and executive boards of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
In one of the most controversial moments of the debate, Vlottes sarcastically remarked that even a one-euro asking price to get rid of the Caribbean territories through an online marketplace would be on the high side. “One euro would still be quite a high return,” he said.
Elmar Vlottes
The PVV parliamentarian also claimed that politicians on the islands “do very little” and that when difficulties arise, they simply ask the Netherlands for money. He further argued that expanding the island governments would only result in more “hammock deputies.”
When asked by D66 parliamentarian Heera Dijk whether there was anything positive to say about the islands, Vlottes paused before replying that “the weather is always nice.”
His comments immediately drew objections from other members of parliament. GroenLinks-PvdA representative Mikal Tseggai called on committee chair Anouschka Biekman to intervene, arguing that the statements were offensive. However, Biekman responded that members of parliament are responsible for their own words.
The criticism was not limited to opposition lawmakers. State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg said he was “extremely disturbed” by the remarks.
“I cannot imagine that if the same contribution had been made about, for example, islands in the European part of the Netherlands, there would not have been a huge uproar in this country,” Van der Burg said. He also urged caution when criticizing others while ignoring problems closer to home.
Despite the controversy, the debate revealed that a majority in the Dutch Parliament supports the gradual expansion of the island councils beginning with the March 2027 elections.
Van der Burg indicated that Bonaire and Saba have largely withdrawn their objections to the reform. He also sought to reassure parliamentarians by promising that sufficient funding would be made available for larger council chambers, additional administrative support, and compensation packages that better reflect the responsibilities of elected officials.
The discussion also touched on broader reforms of governance arrangements between the Netherlands and the Caribbean municipalities. A new version of the WolBES and FinBES legislation, which regulates administrative and financial relations between the islands and the Dutch government, is expected to be submitted to the Council of State later this summer.
Another issue raised during the debate was the future of the Kingdom Representative, the Dutch government's highest representative in the Caribbean Netherlands. While previous agreements reached in 2024 envisioned eliminating the position, Van der Burg suggested he is now leaning toward retaining it.
That reconsideration appears to be linked in part to concerns in The Hague over governance challenges on Bonaire, including the island's ongoing waste management crisis. Following requests from parliamentarians, Van der Burg agreed to hold additional consultations with the island governments before a final decision is made on the future of the Kingdom Representative's office.
Although the debate focused primarily on Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, Vlottes' remarks are likely to resonate across the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, including Curaçao, where discussions about respect, autonomy, and relations with the Netherlands remain politically sensitive topics.