33 million Inselair was money not thrown away

WILLEMSTAD.- The Minister of Social Affairs, Labor and Welfare Hensley Koeiman, yesterday reacted on the decision of the Court of Justice to declare Inselair bankrupt. According to Koeiman, the 33 million guilders that the Government invested in Inselair two years ago “was not money lost”. As is known in the year 2017, during the Koeiman Cabinet, the Government gave the company 33 million guilders to safeguard the company and with this the connectivity of Curaçao. Koeiman yesterday explained that the former Minister of Economic Development Steven Martina, some time ago explained that the 33 million that the Government of Curaçao invested in Inselair were not thrown away. According to Martina, if the government did not put these 33 million, Inselair would have gone broke faster. ‘If we did not give that amount, this could mean that all people by then, would have lost their jobs and there would not have been connection between the islands. It meant that many people could not travel to Bonaire or Aruba for family matters, such as a funeral or for cases related to their health. They would not be able to do business via airplane between the different islands. That is to say, the impact of a bankrupt Inselair in the economy of Curaçao was much greater than the investment made of 33 million florins”.

According to Martina, the investment that the Government made with 33 million guilders “was a lasting investment, avoiding the worst”.

Yesterday Koeiman, in a reaction on the decision of the Court explained, that it was positive for the people to learn that the decision to give to Inselair in the year 2017, was a good decision. Koeiman also added that the decision of the Court to declare Inselair, in his opinion will not have any repercussions for this Cabinet. “Around the world, you can see that countries have a lot of problems with airlines that go bankrupt.”