THE HAGUE – The Dutch liberal VVD wants the Netherlands to provide an additional €200,000 in 2027 to strengthen the resilience of Curaçao and other Caribbean parts of the Kingdom against geopolitical unrest, supply disruptions and other major crises.
VVD Member of Parliament Renate den Hollander announced during the debate on the Kingdom Relations budget and the BES Fund that she has submitted an amendment together with JA21 MP Annabel Nanninga to make the additional funding available.
According to Den Hollander, the Caribbean islands are located in a geopolitically unstable region where investments in resilience, border control and law enforcement remain necessary.
She specifically asked the government to assess current security developments surrounding Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands and explain what measures are being taken against cross-border crime, human smuggling and activities that undermine the rule of law.
Den Hollander pointed to unrest involving Venezuela earlier this year as an example of how developments in the region can quickly expose vulnerabilities on the islands. Their heavy dependence on imports means international disruptions can have an immediate impact on residents.
She also referred to concerns raised by the Dutch Court of Audit about the availability of essential goods and the absence of clear arrangements concerning strategic reserves.
The proposed additional €200,000 could be used to establish or strengthen strategic stockpiles, protect essential infrastructure, develop alternative logistical supply routes and expand cooperation through the Caribbean Civil Protection Mechanism.
Den Hollander said continued regional cooperation is necessary to ensure that crisis management and the ability of the islands to help themselves and one another are adequately organized.
The proposal comes as disaster preparedness has received increased attention in Curaçao. A recent Crisisplan assessment warned that the island could initially respond to a major emergency but could face significant difficulties if a crisis continues for several days.
The VVD said geopolitical instability is unlikely to disappear in the near future and believes the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom should therefore be better prepared for disruptions to essential supplies and services.