Cabinet response to criticism Ombudsman and children’s Ombudsman on BES Islands

The Hague-as one of her last acts as Minister of the interior and Kingdom Relations, Minister Hanke Bruins Slot (she succeeds Hoekstra as Minister of foreign affairs) today sent the Cabinet response to the annual reports of the national ombudsman and the children’s Ombudsman to the House of Representatives. About the Caribbean Netherlands she writes:

Caribbean Netherlands Poverty in the Berry Islands

Improving living standards and fighting poverty is the main goal of the entire Cabinet for the Caribbean Netherlands. Combating poverty requires a broad approach by departments and a broad coalition of parties. The minister for Poverty Policy, participation and Pensions informs the chamber annually about the state of affairs in the progress report ijkpunt sociaal minimum.

The cabinet takes the following measures, among others: As of January 1, 2023, the statutory minimum wage (WML), the minimum benefits and child support have been significantly increased; The General old-age pension (AOV) was raised at once in January to the social minimum benchmark;

As of October 1, the allowance for a single person and the widow and orphan insurance will also be increased to the level of the benchmark.

The Committee for the social minimum in the Caribbean Netherlands has been set up to investigate the height and the systematics of the social minimum in the Caribbean Netherlands. Its results are expected no later than October 1. This is followed by the establishment of the social minimum as soon as possible.

Poverty reduction also involves working towards well-being and broad prosperity. It is not only about income and reducing costs, but also, for example, about improving debt assistance, participation in the labor market and the social security system. It is important that the inhabitants living in poverty are reached. This requires customization and (more) cooperation between the government and public bodies.  The measures taken by the government are further explained in the progress report on the social minimum benchmark.

Caribbean students in the Netherlands

The government recognizes the administrative challenges that Caribbean students face when they come to study in the European Netherlands. Therefore, the following measures are taken:

The Council of Ministers adopted a resolution on 24 March. agreed to amend the decree on basic registration of persons, so that Caribbean students can receive a BSN directly via DUO from 2024 when applying for student funding, before arriving in the Netherlands. This is facilitated by temporarily enrolling them in the BRP as non-residents. After the entry into force, it will take time to adapt DUO’s systems. Given the complexity of this, it is not yet possible for Caribbean students who start their studies in the Netherlands in the academic year 2023-2024 to receive a BSN upon registration. They receive a BSN after registration in the BRP of the Dutch municipality where they will live.

In order to support the students who do not yet receive a BSN this year, a letter has been sent by BZK to the Dutch municipalities. It asked for cooperation to make the process for registration in the basic registration of persons (BRP) as smooth as possible for Caribbean students. The letter is accompanied by an appendix with a more complete overview of the situations with possible solutions. The National Identity Data Service (Rvig) can support municipalities in this.

In consultation with all the bodies involved, the Caribbean students Information Sheet has also been adapted to the situation in 2023 and students have been informed through important intermediaries, such as schools, accompanying bodies and civil affairs departments. Where the registration cannot be handled smoothly and the student may therefore run into problems, RvIG will provide support and search for a solution together with the relevant municipality. All upcoming Caribbean students who will receive student funding have also been informed about the bridging measure by e-mail. In addition, the measure was communicated via the media and social media.

Children in the Caribbean Netherlands

The state secretary of VWS and the state secretary of BZK have received the report ‘Caribbean children of the bill’ and the state secretary of BZK has sent the children’s Ombudsman – and the ombudsman – a response.

Improving living standards and fighting poverty is the main goal of the entire Cabinet for the Caribbean Netherlands. The government takes the recommendations to heart and will follow them (where possible). The Cabinet is looking forward with interest to the vision on the poverty problem in the Caribbean Netherlands that the national ombudsman will present together with the children’s Ombudsman in 2023.

The annual report further describes the working visits that the children’s Ombudsman and her team made to the Caribbean Netherlands in 2022. The Caribbean citizens and children know how to find them better and better. This is of course a good development, because the children’s Ombudsman also has an important function for children and young people on the islands in protecting their rights.