WILLEMSTAD - A large outflow of Venezuelan refugees now that the party of President Nicolás Maduro has again won the elections, interest groups in Curaçao say not to expect this time.
Jennifer Rodriguez of the Venezuelan organization Venex, "the risks are growing" of fleeing to the surrounding islands. Itteke Witteveen of Human Rights Defense Curaçao says that the people who live just across the water in Falcón, will continue to try.
“But the borders are now very well guarded and there are many checks. Also to prevent them from bringing Covid. So I don't think we'll see a lot of new boats coming at the moment.” She still criticizes the situation in the immigration barracks on Curaçao.
Mary Goiri of VEN Europe says that after these elections little will change in the humanitarian field. “The opposition parties that boycotted the elections come up with a plebiscite. If this shows that the elections are indeed fraudulent, then there will be more international support.”
For the people themselves, the situation remains critical, says Goiri. “It also gets worse every day. If only we worked together, the government here, the Netherlands, the Kingdom. So that instead of being a problem for Curaçao, the island can benefit from it.”
A collaboration not only in the economic field, she says, but also politically and socially with the islands. “The Dutch representative in the European Parliament does hear us. But the sequel to it is slow.” According to Goiri, there have been advances from the Curaçao government, but nothing concrete happens.
“It's not just about the undocumented Venezuelans. We also have a very serious situation with those who are legally registered and working on the island. It is practically impossible for them to arrange official papers such as passports with the Venezuelan authorities.”
While they need those documents to be able to extend their residence and work permit in Curaçao. This is also a big problem in Aruba. Since more than 63 countries, including the Netherlands, recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as interim president last year, the consulates that are still headed by Maduro have not cooperated.
But also the island governments, unlike America, for example, have difficulty recognizing expired documents that many Venezuelans cannot renew due to the situation in their home country.