THE HAGUE – Dutch coalition party CDA is calling on the government to ensure that €30 million earmarked for improving economic security in the Caribbean Netherlands is used as additional funding rather than replacing existing programs aimed at reducing poverty and high living costs on Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.
CDA Member of Parliament Tijs van den Brink raised the issue during the House of Representatives debate on the Kingdom Relations budget and the BES Fund.
Van den Brink said the economic situation remains difficult for many residents of the Caribbean Netherlands, particularly older people living in poverty. He welcomed the €30 million included in the coalition agreement to improve economic security and supported plans to invest part of the money in energy, water and telecommunications infrastructure to reduce households’ fixed expenses.
However, the CDA parliamentarian urged State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg to involve the islands themselves closely in deciding how the funding should be spent.
Van den Brink referred specifically to discussions with the Island Council of St. Eustatius, which he said had presented concrete proposals, including ideas to help people receiving social assistance enter the labor market.
He also pointed to several measures already included in the Dutch Social Affairs budget for the Caribbean Netherlands. These include €5.25 million for an increased energy allowance, €1 million to support children living in poverty and €2 million for an emergency energy fund.
Van den Brink asked the government to guarantee that the €30 million from the coalition agreement would remain additional to these expenditures rather than being used to replace them.
The CDA also argued that the special circumstances of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba require policies tailored to the islands. Although the three islands are municipalities within the Netherlands, Van den Brink said their situation differs substantially from that of the European Netherlands.
He said the CDA favors stronger social, cultural and economic ties among all parts of the Kingdom and considers the BES islands a full part of the Netherlands.