THE HAGUE.- The mass exodus of Venezuelans can disturb the Arubian community and in turn those of Curaçao and San Martín. Still, Holland does not take the islands’ concern seriously enough. As the Arubian parliamentarians pointed out, according to Caribbean Network. Among them, the chairman of the Parliament Ady Thijsen (MEP) that recently went to the Netherlands to request financial support in order to allocate it to the reception of the Venezuelan refugees.
‘Very strange’ Thijsen pointed out, that the Netherlands has contributed almost 4 million Euros to Colombia for the reception of the refugees while the Netherlands has contributed only with technical support to Aruba, despite the different requests for help. “We are all citizens of the Kingdom,” said the President of Parliament, who called the Venezuelan crisis “a matter of the kingdom.”
In January, during a visit by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Secretary of State Raymond Knops to Aruba, it was very obvious that the Dutch Government views the refugee problem as an ‘interest of the country’. It is better to say directly to the islands, ‘look how to solve this situation yourself’. Like the United States, Russia, China and other large countries in Europe, the Netherlands has many economic interests in Venezuela. “It’s normal for the Netherlands to protect their interests,” Thijsen said. But this cannot go under our cost. ‘
Aruba contrary to Curaçao and San Martín signed the Refugee Treaty and therefore Aruba must reserve money / funds for the reception of refugees. But Thijsen says that Aruba due to the close ties with Venezuela never expected such a situation and did not save for this. In addition, the island cannot charge the expenses alone.”The reception of only 500 Venezuelans who have obtained asylum, costs the island of Aruba, 30 million annually to the change of Aruban guilders,” Thijsen explained.
