THE HAGUE – The Dutch government has denied allegations that it threatened to suspend financial assistance to Aruba during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the island's low vaccination rate. The denial came in written responses to questions submitted in the Dutch House of Representatives following statements made by a hospital executive in Aruba.
Minister Sterk, responsible for Long-Term Care, Youth and Sports, rejected claims that former State Secretary Paul Blokhuis had threatened to withdraw financial support from Aruba and potentially other Caribbean parts of the Kingdom if vaccination rates did not improve.
The controversy arose after Vroegop, the chief executive of the hospital in Oranjestad, referred to an alleged threat during a recorded conversation with a woman identified as Walk.
His remarks prompted Member of Parliament Pepijn van Houwelingen of Forum for Democracy (FvD) to submit written questions seeking clarification about the Dutch government's conduct during the pandemic.
Van Houwelingen specifically asked whether Blokhuis had threatened to discontinue financial assistance because of insufficient COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
Minister Sterk rejected that characterization.
"No, the cabinet does not recognize itself in the picture presented," the minister stated in her written response.
She emphasized that the Netherlands had maintained constructive cooperation with Aruba throughout the pandemic, working with both government officials and healthcare professionals.
The parliamentarian also requested information about the meeting during which the alleged threat was said to have been made.
However, the minister indicated that the government could not identify the specific meeting mentioned by the hospital executive.
According to Sterk, Blokhuis regularly participated in discussions with ministers from the different countries within the Kingdom during that period, making it unclear which meeting Vroegop was referring to.
As a result, the government said it could not provide the requested agenda or minutes of the alleged meeting.
The minister also explained that a complete list of participants and invited individuals could not be disclosed because of privacy regulations under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Van Houwelingen further requested access to communications exchanged in 2021 between the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and authorities in Aruba concerning COVID-19 vaccination rates.
In response, the government referred Parliament to previously published factual reconstructions concerning the Dutch Caribbean, which were submitted to the House of Representatives on September 14, 2023.
The exchange highlights continuing questions about the relationship between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom during the COVID-19 crisis, particularly regarding financial assistance, public health measures, and the degree of pressure exercised by Dutch authorities.
During the pandemic, cooperation between the Netherlands and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom involved extensive coordination on healthcare capacity, vaccination programs, and financial support.
However, the minister's response makes clear that the Dutch government disputes the allegation that financial assistance was used as leverage to pressure Aruba into increasing its vaccination rate.
The written answers do not establish which meeting Vroegop was referring to, and the specific circumstances surrounding his account remain unresolved.
For now, the Dutch government's official position is that no such threat was made and that cooperation with Aruba throughout the pandemic remained constructive.