WILLEMSTAD – Dutch State Secretary for Recovery and Childcare Benefits, Sandra Palmen, visited Curaçao from January 25 to 28 to hold in-depth discussions on the needs of the 275 families on the island affected by the childcare benefits scandal.
During her visit, Palmen focused on the work of the Overseas Support Team, which assists affected parents across five key areas of daily life with the aim of helping families rebuild and achieve long-term stability.
The state secretary met with Curaçao’s Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, Charetti America, as well as Minister of Finance Charles Cooper. Both ministers committed to supporting the assistance trajectories for the affected families within the scope of their respective responsibilities.
At the invitation of the Netherlands’ representative in Curaçao, Gerbert Kunst, a meeting was held with a broad group of stakeholders, including the FKP, ACU, MCB, Unidat di Bario and Aqualectra. The discussions highlighted a strong willingness among the parties involved to contribute to concrete solutions for the affected parents.
As a tangible outcome of the visit, an intention agreement was signed with the Foundation for Debt Restructuring and Financial Guardianship. Under a pilot program, the foundation will provide debt restructuring support to ten families, marking an initial step toward broader financial recovery assistance on the island.
