WILLEMSTAD - “Today we, the Netherlands and Curaçao, are completing a process for a better and stronger Curaçao, which we have been working on together for months.
I am pleased to announce that we have managed to reach a political agreement in a positive atmosphere. There is commitment back and forth, in one of the most uncertain times.
Now we can continue to work together on the necessary reforms and investments in Curaçao that again provide perspective. With financial and technical help, we are able to invest in better quality education, accessible care, sustainable economic development, an efficient and decisive government and solid public finances.
I wish a warm 'bon biní' to Undersecretary Knops and his delegation. Thank you for your efforts to successfully conclude the negotiations, both remotely and during our visit to the Netherlands. Together we have succeeded in reaching good agreements and the right partnership.
Furthermore, my thanks go out in particular to:
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra for their efforts, commitment, support and trust in the Council of Ministers;
My colleagues within the Council of Ministers and the Parliament of Curaçao, for their support, cooperation and appreciation for the efforts of the Government and all the officials and experts who contributed. And of course to the official teams on both sides who negotiated in a very professional manner.
I want to express appreciation for the way in which we worked together during the Kingdom Council of Ministers. I found it particularly important that what I brought forward on behalf of Curaçao was listened to and that there was an understanding for the challenges that Curaçao is facing.
On this basis, we were able to work out the more complicated parts together during the weekend. Today we are here with an end result that we as partners are satisfied with.
We can offer hope and perspective to the citizens of Curaçao and that was my goal.
Let's now enter a new phase together, where it is important for us, Curaçao, to stand on our own, with a solid partner next to us who supports us on this path.