THE HAGUE - “Van Huffelen must stop pushing gay marriage in the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.” That is according to Roelof Bisschop of the Political Reformed Party SGP in the Dutch House of Representatives.
Bisschop has asked written questions to the minister in response to the court ruling in which Aruba and Curaçao are ordered to facilitate same-sex marriage after all. Both governments have since appealed.
State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen of Kingdom Relations regrets that step and warned the next day that Aruba and Curaçao may come into conflict with the kingdom with their refusal to allow same-sex marriage. According to the State Secretary, safeguarding human rights is a responsibility of the kingdom.
Bisschop disagrees. According to the SGP Member of Parliament, the pressure from the State Secretary can be experienced as 'ideological colonialism'. Bishop believes that the Netherlands should respect the democracy of the countries of the Kingdom.