WILLEMSTAD, PARAMARIBO - The apologies offered by Dutch King Willem-Alexander for his country's role in the slavery past are deemed a "historic moment" and a "recognition of the past suffering and pain," according to the Prime Minister of Curaçao, Gilmar Pisas.
Pisas also commended the king's call for forgiveness, stating, "We greatly appreciate that," during the commemoration of the abolition of slavery on Curaçao, a Dutch island in the Caribbean. He believes that the Netherlands has shown "courage and responsibility" in addressing "painful issues from the past" and considers the apologies as a significant change in the relationship between Curaçao and the Netherlands. Pisas emphasizes the need for the country to now work towards social stability.
In Paramaribo, Surinamese President Chan Santokhi also welcomed the apologies from Willem-Alexander. He stated that they demonstrate a "willingness to recognize the magnitude of the suffering at that time" during a commemoration at the Kwakoe monument in the capital.
"The king has indicated that the apologies are deeply felt from the heart and soul, and we welcome that," said the president. He added that his government does not want to provide an immediate response, as he first wants to have a "broadly supported" answer in his country on how the Netherlands and Suriname will proceed.
"Our response to the apologies must be of equal historical value as the apologies from the Netherlands. We have no choice because the wounds of three hundred years of slavery are not easily healed," Santokhi concluded.