Current files relating to the Caribbean Netherlands will be dealt with by the House of Representatives before the election recess – in October. During a so-called arrangement of activities, the House today also gave the green light to put the Ennia loan on the agenda in October as well.
Due to the outgoing status of the cabinet and the full agenda, many budgets are not discussed. The Kingdom Relations budget and BES fund also suffer that fate. But at the insistence of D66, the most important topics are discussed in committee. An additional legislative consultation will be scheduled for this. This will include the 30 million euros that the government wants to spend in 2024 on combating poverty and improving purchasing power in the Caribbean Netherlands and the loan of 600 million euros to rescue Ennia’s pension fund.
“Treating the BES fund is important for D66. Firstly, it is about increasing the money for housing allowance. Furthermore, money for climate intended for insulation of homes cannot be implemented. It also concerns money for food banks and affordable public transport on the islands, and a loan for the ENNIA pension fund. These are all things that we say: we really have to continue with them. Don’t forget the BES islands,” said D66 member Hammelburg.
He received support from most factions. Van Baarle (DENK): “We believe that people there should not have to suffer from the fact that we have elections.” Kamminga (VVD) about the Ennia loan: “I think it is a dilemma. In my opinion, we should simply make the loan for ENNIA sound. This may then require budgetary consideration. I would like to call on the State Secretary to consider whether there is no other option to generate sufficient basis for that ENNIA loan.”
There is no administrative agreement yet. The government of Curaçao is said to have difficulty with the more than 1.2 billion guilders adding to the already sky-high government debt and the interest taking up budget space for other urgent matters. The deadline for reaching an agreement is September 30.
A budget that will be processed in the regular manner is that of Social Affairs and Employment. This is important for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba because the advice of the Thodé Commission on the introduction of a social minimum can be discussed there. The report is expected in early October.dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl