WILLEMSTAD - The Netherlands and Curaçao have “a common interest” in improving the reception of undocumented migrants on the island. State Secretary Alexandra van Huffelen (Kingdom Relations) said this on Saturday afternoon, after she had visited the barracks where mainly Venezuelan refugees are received earlier in the day.
Van Huffelen visited the accommodations with the Curaçao Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas. She surveyed the new building and spoke to some Venezuelans who are in detention. Pisas acted as an interpreter for the Dutch State Secretary.
The Prime Minister himself emphasized that Curaçao also wants to improve reception. In January, the Netherlands stopped financing for the renovation of the barracks out of dissatisfaction with the role of Curaçao in this. But according to Pisas, this was partly due to problems with the supply of building materials and a lack of staff.
Amnesty International released a damning report on the shelter in October 2021. During a working visit by Amnesty in December, it was not possible to make an appointment with Pisas, who is also Minister of Justice.
Pisas explained on Saturday that an earlier appointment was canceled due to illness. He said that Amnesty will come again in March and that he will certainly talk to the organization then. According to him, Curaçao has already started with some recommendations that the human rights organization has made.
Pisas endorsed Van Huffelen’s words that the two countries have “a common interest in providing good housing and care for the undocumented.” He called the working visit of the new Secretary of State “very pleasant” and said he was looking forward to continuing to work with the Secretary of State.