WILLEMSTAD, THE HAGUE - The relationship between Curaçao and the Netherlands seems to be going downhill since the corona crisis. Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath, for example, stated that he is not a "mucha manda" (errand boy) of the Netherlands and other cabinet members speak of "WIC practices" and "abuse of power". How could the relationship deteriorate so much?
Curaçao and the Netherlands got along remarkably well under Prime Minister Rhuggenaath of the PAR, the most Dutch-minded party. Until he unexpectedly received a financial instruction from The Hague last year. “That has caused enormous bad blood,” observes former Member of Parliament and former Minister of Education Omayra Leeflang.
“I think it's a shame that because of the tensions, people who are in trouble up to their heads are not thought of. We cannot get out without help. We already had major financial problems before the corona crisis.”
What should be done now? According to the former minister, the government should accept the corona loans despite the strict conditions, “because this is our last chance. If we do not seize this opportunity, we won't get out of trouble for the next 25 years.”
"Fictious autonomy"
According to historian Jeanne Henriquez, the deteriorated relationship is a result of the Statute, in which the autonomy of Curaçao is a "fictitious autonomy". “From 1954, Curaçao thought that it would get a certain degree of independence, what we call autonomy, in which the Netherlands indicates that Curaçao is in full control. But we have absolutely nothing to say in many areas and that is an issue,” says Henriquez.
“The Statute states that mutual assistance must be available in times of crisis. Curaçao does give full support to the Netherlands in this, but this is not the case the other way around. Curaçaoans are considered second-class citizens in which human rights have never been given priority.”
Frederik van Beetz was an advisor to three Prime Ministers of the Netherlands Antilles from 2001 to 2010. He experienced the period and the negotiations leading up to the constitutional reforms up close. “I think The Hague shows too little compassion, a warm shoulder is important in times of need,” says Beetz.
The former advisor is not against the strict conditions that the Netherlands sets for the corona loans, but there must be agreement on this and with input from the Curaçao side. “Of course, careful action is necessary and desirable when spending the aid money raised by taxpayers in the Netherlands. But I know from experience how difficult it is for Dutch policymakers and politicians to empathize with the relationships on the islands. Politicians on Curaçao must also be able to account for themselves against their voters.”
"More empathy"
Beetz: “After the political reforms on October 10, 2010, a different government came to power in Curaçao than was taken into account. The cabinets of Gerrit Schotte were simply not a blessed period. Especially now that the PAR (the party of Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath) is trying to keep the island on course, more empathy can be expected from The Hague.”
The former adviser fears that the lessons learned in the run-up to October 10, 2010 have been forgotten. “These lessons include: try to put yourself in the position of the other person's viewpoints and positions, for the scale (small-scale) and that connectedness must be given meaning every time”.
Leeflang also sees the offer from the Netherlands as an opportunity and hopes that Curaçao will accept that this coming Friday, despite the strict conditions.