THE HAGUE - The Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament has expressed its concerns about the consequences of the corona crisis for the Caribbean part of the Kingdom - including with regard to health care and the economy - but at the same time also criticizes the speed in which the Dutch government is acting.
The emergency package announced by Minister Raymond Knops of Kingdom Relations was a little less detailed than this week's letter from Undersecretary Tamara van Ark of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW), which means that some questions have now become obsolete. But the list of 82 questions from MPs contains a wide range of points for which the Parliamentary Committee for Kingdom Relations demands attention.
A large part of the committee believes that support from the Netherlands should be provided quickly and generously. A few times the emphasis is placed on speed: that comes first, the conditions will come back later. “On the one hand, mindful of Article 36 of the Statute ('the Netherlands, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten provide help and assistance to one another') in the short term, generously provide effective (financial) aid, while on the other hand term (financial) assistance is made strictly dependent on solving long-known problems in terms of the size of the public administration, financial management or the integrity of government functions? “
Another question from the Dutch parliament about the requests for assistance from Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten is: “Can you indicate to what extent and on what period the Kingdom Council of Ministers will decide on these requests?” Another questioner asks whether the Netherlands wants to stand as guarantee for the countries if they enter the capital market for debt refinancing.
The Chamber Committee also asks whether the aid will consist of budget support or liquidity support. And the Statute is added again: “To what extent does the Statute still apply to situations like this? Is this the end of the autonomy of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten? To what extent can these countries handle crises like this independently?”
Legislative and regulatory exceptions could help countries cope with the crisis, another question suggests. In addition to questions about the emergency measures that have been and are being taken on the various islands, there are concerns about health care. For example, people are asked whether there are alternative options for Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba (BES). “To what extent can the hospital on Sint Maarten still function in this situation for patients on Statia or Saba?”
The islands should be assured that they can count on help in the care sector, says one of the MPs: “Can you indicate what the current general state of health is in the Caribbean Netherlands and the countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten? Is medical care for the residents of the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom guaranteed?”
You will also be asked to send medical specialists and materials: “How will you support the Caribbean Netherlands in the desire for extra IC capacity, auxiliary and protective equipment?”