WILLEMSTAD.- “We are working with heart and soul and with everything we have in our power, to prevent the Curaçao Refinery from closing”, says the Prime Minister Eugene Rhuggenaath during a meeting in the Central Committee of the Parliament of Curaçao related to the new developments in the search for a strategic partner to operate our Refinery after the current contract expires. Rhuggenaath responded to the questions posed by the parliamentarian Gerrit Schote (MFK) where the Prime Minister guarantees that refinery will not be closed. The goal is to continue. ”
Rhuggenaath: “This is a way we will keep walking. If it’s not enough I want to take a step back in history to explain to those who do not know, that for me, this is a personal issue. Why? … I can practically say that I am a son of the refinery. My father worked there, my parents met working together in the refinery, and then, as his son, I am also a son of Curaçao. Several Rhuggenaaths worked there, and different Rhuggenaaths are still working until today. It means that it is a commitment for Curaçao, it is a commitment to our heritage, and it is a family commitment as well. Rhuggenaath said that his grandfather came to Curaçao for the Isla Refinery, the same as other immigrants. ”
The Prime Minister explained that his grandparents did work related to Isla: “My story is linked to the history of Isla. And to explain part of the guarantee: as a shareholder and as the minister in charge, it is my priority to work for Isla. Parliamentarian Meindert “Menki” Rojer explained, “this is a national priority.” According to Rhuggenaath: “And we must treat it as such” (end of quote).
