WILLEMSTAD - In Curaçao, criticism on the Caribbean Reform and Development Agency (COHO) is increasing by the week. Both in parliament and beyond, the plan is increasingly seen as a Dutch invention that does little good for the Curaçao citizen.
In Curaçao, there has been a fierce discussion on radio and TV about the Dutch conditions for months. In exchange for hundreds of millions in corona loans, Curaçao has agreed with the Netherlands to radically reform. COHO, a government organization, must monitor whether the plans are being implemented. Proponents emphasize the positive influence of the plan for the population.
At least 11 trade unions of Curaçao are against it
Last week, during a press conference of the umbrella trade union body Sentral Solidaridat Sindikal (which includes eleven Curaçao trade unions), the remarks of trade union director Fensley Sillé left nothing to be desired. “We advise everyone not to vote for a party that is for the COHO in the next election!”
Now there are no elections in Curaçao for the time being, but according to Sillé, leader of the trade union BTG, everyone should know that the establishment of a COHO does not serve the common man according to him. He therefore called on all workers to protest against the COHO during the commemoration of Labor Day (1 May).
Sillé stated in a press conference organized to provide information from the unions about Labor Day that COHO had become a monster. “At first it was an annoying thorn, now it has become a painful and stuck thorn.” (“E tabata un sumpiña i awor aki el a bira un anglo.”)
"They, the elite, and we the people"
In Curaçao politics and political discussion often talk about 'nan i nos' (them and us). It is not always defined who is meant by 'nan'. But in the case of the COHO discussion, Sillé has no doubts.
According to the union leader, "they" are not the ordinary Curaçao citizen. 'They' are the elite, the previous PAR government, the employers who don't care about the little man and also the Dutch politicians who think they know better.
Call for referendum
In addition to the group of eleven unions, there are also workers' unions that oppose the COHO. Amado Rojer of the political party PAN, which is not represented in parliament, is a striking opponent. He calls on the population to demonstrate for a plebiscite. He calls a referendum "the only way" to get the COHO off the table.
Rojer spoke to the president of the Sint Maarten parliament Grisha Heyliger-Marten by phone last weekend about their fight against the COHO. Heyliger-Marten is also leader of the largest political party in Sint Maarten, the UP Party. According to Rojer, they are both on the same page.
The question is whether such a referendum will actually take place; a march for a referendum that Rojer organized on April 27 (King's Day) from Parke Tula in Willemstad did not attract many people.
Where are the supporters?
The opponents are not going out on the street for the time being; also during the May 1 celebration there was no big demonstration as expected. The problem for COHO, however, is that there are currently few clear supporters in Curaçao. The two parties, PAR and MAN, which previously reached an agreement with the Netherlands in the Rhuggenaath cabinet, have even greater doubts about their support.
In a meeting of the parliament of Curaçao on April 26, a motion was passed with the support of all parties - including PAR and MAN - asking the government to demand clarity from the Netherlands about the financial 'commitment of the Netherlands' and about the power of the Netherlands through the Minister of the Interior.
The parties want to know to what extent the Dutch minister will be given 'power to intervene' on their island. The Curaçao parliament also wants a black on white guarantee that every country of the Kingdom is represented in the board of the COHO.
Caribbean Members of Parliament talk to Dutch MPs
The question is whether an answer to those questions will come in time. This week, several members of parliament from Curaçao traveled to Philipsburg. Together with a delegation of Aruban, Sint Maarten and Dutch parliamentarians, they will discuss matters such as COHO and the political relations within the Kingdom. A press conference will follow on Friday, at the end of the day. This will show how far or close the countries are in reaching an agreement.