The improving of the social security for residents of Bonaire, Saba and Sint
Eustatius and new agreements on the collaboration to implement reforms with the
countries Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. In 2023, these were some of the most
important milestones in the relations between the Netherlands and the Caribbean
parts of the Kingdom.
Lower cost of living
In 2023, the report of the Social Minimum Committee Caribbean Netherlands was
released. Partly based on the advice of this Committee, the Dutch Government
decided to make 30 million euro structurally available as of 2024 to strengthen the
social security of people on Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius. To this extent, the
social minimum and the legal minimum wage will be increased to $1.750 per month
per the 1 st of July 2024.
Various measures were taken in 2023 to reduce the cost of living. Examples are the
energy subsidy, lower internet costs, the subsidy for the ferry in the Windward
Islands and a financial contribution to organise public transport on Bonaire, Saba and
St. Eustatius.
Government agreements were signed with both St. Eustatius and Saba in 2023.
Central themes in these agreements are, among other things, social security,
economic and/or physical development, climate, nature, environment, good
governance and strengthening of the operational capacity.
Sustainably working together on reforms
The four countries in the Kingdom signed the Mutual Agreement early April 2023 for
sustainable collaboration on reforms in the public sector of the Caribbean countries.
For this purpose, Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten work together with the
Temporary Work Organisation (TWO).
Among other things, an agreement was reached in Aruba about modernising the
labour market in combination with strengthening the social security. Also, a care
agreement was reached to manage the healthcare costs and to safeguard the quality
of care.
In Curaçao, the programme Improving Functioning Government was approved to
realise savings in the cost of personnel and to strengthen the quality of the
government organisation. The permits window for entrepreneurs in Curaçao was
digitised and work was continued to tackle the backlog in maintenance of school
buildings.
In Sint Maarten, the framework for sizable reforms in the government organisation
was established in 2023. Strengthening of the government organisation, the
organisation culture and integrity are focal points in this.
Tackling subversive crime
In 2023, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Kingdom Relations (BZK) reserved close
to 18 million euros for the tackling of subversive crime in the Caribbean part of the
Kingdom. These means were utilised for the expansion of capacity at the Detective
Cooperation Team (RST), the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Curaçao, Sint Maarten and
the Caribbean Netherlands, the Public Prosecutor’s Office Aruba and the Joint Court
of Justice. In 2023, the implementation of the first projects started based on jointly
drafted plans of approach. Such as the developing of awareness campaigns, hiring
legislation capacity and drafting subversive crime assessments.
Reconstruction Sint Maarten
St. Maarten’s reconstruction after the devastating hurricane Irma in 2017 progresses
steadily. The results of the investments via the Trust Fund Sint Maarten
Reconstruction, financed by the Netherlands and managed by the World Bank, are
becoming more visible. The total size of the Trust Fund projects amounted to more
than $443 million at the end of 2023. In total, 12 projects received trust fund grants
in 2023. Also, the World Bank opened its local office in Sint Maarten in 2023 which
contributes to the effectiveness of the Bank’s work.
Kingdom-wide: Programme Slavery past and Cooperating Funds Caribbean
On the 1 st of July 2023, the Commemoration Year Slavery past started. In close
collaboration with the islands, a commemoration was organised in Aruba, Curaçao,
Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius on July 1 st . A member of the Dutch
Government was present on each island. On July 3 rd , State Secretary Alexandra van
Huffelen pronounced the formal rehabilitation of Curaçao freedom fighter and
resistance hero Tula on behalf of the Dutch State. Archives from the Slavery past
were transferred to the Aruba National Archive where the process will continue to
scan the archives with old handwritings.
The Ministry of BZK contributed 0.5 million euro to the new programme Cooperating
Funds Caribbean of the Oranjefonds for social initiatives in the Caribbean part of the
Kingdom. The programme is aimed at initiatives that provide assistance to families in
vulnerable positions. Social organisations on the six islands can apply at this fund.