THE HAGUE – PAR Member of Parliament Quincy Girigorie has accused the Netherlands of applying a double standard when dealing with migration crises, arguing that Curaçao received little support when it faced a massive influx of Venezuelan migrants despite repeated appeals for assistance.
Speaking during the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) in The Hague, Girigorie said Curaçao was effectively told to handle the crisis on its own under the principle of autonomy, even though the scale of the challenge placed enormous pressure on the island's resources and institutions.
The former Minister of Justice pointed out that during the peak of Venezuela's economic collapse, Curaçao experienced migration pressures equivalent to approximately 10 percent of its population. According to Girigorie, neighboring Aruba faced an even greater burden, with migrant numbers representing about 15 percent of its population.
He contrasted that experience with the current debate in the Netherlands regarding migration, where Dutch politicians have acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and are discussing national measures to address it.
“When Curaçao faced a comparable or even greater challenge relative to its population, we were told it was an autonomous matter and that we had to solve it ourselves,” Girigorie said.
According to the parliamentarian, Curaçao repeatedly requested assistance, including support based on human rights concerns. He recalled witnessing migrants being housed in inadequate conditions as local authorities struggled to cope with the growing humanitarian challenge.
Girigorie argued that no municipality in the Netherlands would be expected to deal with such a crisis alone, yet Caribbean countries within the Kingdom often receive different treatment when faced with similar circumstances.
While stressing that he supports autonomy and accepts that Curaçao must take responsibility for its own affairs, Girigorie said autonomy should not be used as an excuse to avoid meaningful cooperation on issues that exceed the capacity of small island nations.
The PAR leader emphasized that cooperation does not necessarily have to involve direct financial assistance. The Netherlands, he said, could contribute through expertise, institutional support and additional capacity.
He called on Dutch politicians to better understand the realities facing the Caribbean countries and to engage with them as equal partners within the Kingdom.
The issue sparked discussion during the IPKO session, where participants examined ways to improve cooperation between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries of the Kingdom.
Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz, chairwoman of the Evaluation Committee for the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms, responded that cooperation has improved in recent years and that trust between civil servants from the various countries is gradually increasing. However, Girigorie maintained that political attitudes in the Netherlands remain an obstacle to deeper cooperation.
He concluded by urging members of the Dutch Parliament to recognize the challenges confronting Curaçao and to work together in a spirit of genuine partnership.