News Americas, New York, NY, October 28, 2024: Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols will visit Curaçao from today, October 28 to Wednesday October 30, 2024, to strengthen ties and promote cooperative efforts with the Dutch Caribbean.
During his visit, Nichols will engage with Curaçaoan leaders, including Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas and Governor Lucille George-Wout, as well as other high-ranking officials to reinforce the US commitment to shared goals of sustainable economic growth. , regional security and expanded educational opportunities. .
In addition to government meetings, Assistant Secretary Nichols plans to connect with civil society representatives, political and business leaders, and US partner organizations operating in the region. In particular, he will announce increased US aid aimed at increasing English-language education and teacher training in the Dutch Caribbean, with a focus on expanding inclusive access to higher education at all levels of society.
This visit underscores the US commitment to support the Dutch Caribbean island’s development goals by fostering stronger partnerships in education, security and economic stability in the region.
The visit follows a recent Dutch Parliament debate on the Kingdom Relations budget, where some members expressed strong concerns about ongoing corruption in the Dutch Caribbean islands, calling for tougher enforcement and tougher action against officials implicated in deception
VVD’s Aukje de Vries emphasized good governance as a core principle of her party, expressing concern about the instability of the islands’ administrations and repeated cases of corruption. De Vries cited the recent arrest of Aruban minister Glenbert Croes and the previous convictions of former Curaçao Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte and Sint Maarten MP Theo Heyliger.
“VVD wants good governance for islanders, a government that serves its people and not itself,” De Vries said, calling for a stronger stance on criminal behavior and greater investment in law enforcement resources. law in the region.
PVV’s Peter van Haasen warned that corruption poses a serious threat to the rule of law and public trust in government. He condemned the repeated involvement of officials in cases of fraud and bribery. “Corruption should never be dismissed as part of Caribbean culture. This is completely unacceptable,” Van Haasen stressed, advocating for decisive action against corrupt officials to protect justice and social stability on the islands.
Raoul White of GroenLinks-PvdA echoed these sentiments, stressing the need for accountability. White noted that many citizens feel let down, seeing political and financial elites escape consequences while others face punishment. “People think that the elites are protected, while the little ones are punished. This seriously undermines trust in government,” White argued, calling for concrete reforms to promote equality within the Kingdom.
Parliament collectively called on the Dutch government to support Caribbean law enforcement efforts with financial and technical resources, underscoring that a decisive approach to corruption is essential to restoring public trust and ensuring governmental integrity across the islands.
