Secretary of State Alexandra van Huffelen on Tuesday morning in a press conference with the Dutch Caribbean press and gave more details about the loan of 1.2 million guilders that the Netherlands offers to Curacao to help ENNIA.
According to Van Huffelen, the governments of the Netherlands and Curaçao are concerned about ENNIA’s financial situation. If we do nothing, from the beginning of 2024 ENNIA will have trouble paying everyone their full pension. There is no other option, we have to invest the money in ENNIA. Otherwise, the pension is no longer guaranteed.
According to Van Huffelen, the Netherlands wants to lend Curacao the money, and also a part to Sint Maarten. We see no other option. As is well known, the Netherlands has already announced that they will invest a lot of money to fight poverty in the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. At the press conference Van Huffelen explained that this is seperate to the problems with ENNIA. But he emphasizes that as the Dutch government we say it is very important for us to find a solution.
Van Huffelen explains that there are still several court cases related to the case. If the Public Ministry also has to initiate a criminal case, this is not a decision that the Netherlands can take. This is something for the governments of Curacao and Sint Maarten. They may choose to file a complaint against ENNIA, if they wish.
