WILLEMSTAD - The new MFK / PNP coalition does not yet intend to participate in the discussions on the creation of the COHO. However, agreeing to the new supervisory body is a condition of the Netherlands for keeping the money tap open.
Officially, the current Rhuggenaath cabinet is still Knops' discussion partner in the consultations about the Caribbean Body for Reform and Development (COHO), but Rhuggenaath thinks it is more of a task for the new government. However, the MFK and PNP have not yet accepted the offer to sit down with outgoing Undersecretary Knops, PNP leader Ruthmilda Larmonie said.
One of the conditions of the Netherlands for the new (third) tranche of liquidity support is consent to the establishment of the COHO. In November 2020, the governments of Curaçao and the Netherlands reached political agreement on this. In exchange for reforms in Curaçao, the Netherlands will offer new support. COHO should monitor the implementation of those reforms.
The envisaged new coalition parties have already announced that they are not a fan of this entity to be set up. They see the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as a more suitable supervisor.
But this attitude puts Curaçao in a difficult position when it comes to making decisions about the disbursement of further aid. Money that Curaçao desperately needs. In mid-June, the next tranche of liquidity support - and especially the question of whether Curaçao has met the conditions - is back on the agenda of the Kingdom Council of Ministers.