WILLEMSTAD.- The Seven-Seas Boat arrived in Curaçao yesterday for the transportation of humanitarian aid to Venezuela. But Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath said the ship can’t leave if it has no guarantees and if the situation in Venezuela is not safe for it to reach that country. There must also be an infrastructure ready with all the items that will be distributed in Venezuela. This is what EXTRA understood from Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggennaath. These are also the words agreed by the Government within Parliament, based on the motion that was approved. And that guarantee is not there, despite the fact that interim President Guaidó made the request. This boat came thanks to a private initiative, to take the products for Venezuela.
The ship is now in the middle of a controversy since neither the Prime Minister nor the Customs, is giving the OK so that it can sail full with the products of the humanitarian aid. In talks with Prime Minister Rhuggenaath, he emphasized that he follows the conditions that Parliament and the motion have established, that there must be guarantees for humanitarian aid products to reach Venezuela. Neither the Government nor the Customs will allow the ship to leave for Venezuela with humanitarian aid inside without fulfilling these conditions. He said that the products for humanitarian aid can reach Curaçao and will be stored here, but Curaçao can’ function as a hub.
Also, via the Ambassador of Venezuela an appeal was made to let the products enter, but until yesterday they had not obtained an official response for this to happen. The Prime Minister believes that the best thing that can happen; is that the parties find another alternative, because it is a humanitarian aid that needs to be delivered and that finally must reach the Venezuelan people.
Regarding the day in which it is desired, that among the humanitarian aid that is ready among others in Cúcuta, the Prime Minister told EXTRA, that he expects healthy judgment to prevail in this case, that the persons involved would place their hands on their heart and permit that the products enter and thus be able to help the Venezuelan people. Today is a day of hope, said Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath.
