THE HAGUE – Dutch political party JA21 is pressing the government for clarity on when Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will be able to continue without Dutch support under the country packages, as the Netherlands prepares to extend the reform cooperation for another two years.
JA21 Member of Parliament Annabel Nanninga raised the issue during the House of Representatives debate on the Kingdom Relations budget and the BES Fund.
Nanninga stressed that Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten are autonomous countries responsible for their own governments and public finances. She said Dutch assistance should ultimately help the islands become more self-reliant.
The country packages were agreed at the end of 2020 as part of arrangements between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries following the COVID-19 crisis. The Dutch government now intends to extend cooperation on their implementation for another two years.
Nanninga asked State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg to identify which reforms still need to be completed before Dutch support can end.
She also wants to know what arrangements have been made to structurally finance the reforms after Dutch assistance stops and how Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten will be held accountable for maintaining them.
Another question concerns how progress will be measured. Nanninga asked whether joint reports will show if agreements on financing and accountability are being respected.
“When are those country packages no longer necessary?” Nanninga asked, calling for a clear endpoint to the cooperation.
According to JA21, both the Dutch Parliament and the Caribbean countries need clarity about when the reforms should be sufficiently embedded to continue without Dutch assistance.
The questions echo concerns raised by VVD Member of Parliament Renate den Hollander during the same budget debate. The VVD also asked which reforms must still be completed and how another extension after 2029 can be avoided.