Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Ronald_Plasterk_2015_(1)
Ronald Plasterk (Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl/Wikimedia Commons) - Credit: Ronald Plasterk (Photo: Rijksoverheid.nl/Wikimedia Commons)
Politics
Nature
Sint Maarten
Dutch soldiers
Hurricane Irma
Rob Verkerk
Ronald Plasterk
William Marlin
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Defence
Commander of the Armed Forces
Monday, 18 September 2017 - 13:20
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Criticism of Dutch soldiers on Sint Maarten "complete nonsense": Dutch commander, minister

Rob Verkerk, Commander of the Dutch Armed Forces, and Minister Ronald Plasterk of Home Affairs called critical statements by Sint Maarten Prime Minister William Marlin about Dutch soldiers on the island "complete nonsense". In an interview with NRC, Marlin said that Dutch soldiers did nothing to stop looting on the island after Hurricane Irma.

"There was looting, the marines watched and did nothing", Marlin said, according to NRC.

"What complete nonsense", Verkerk said on Twitter. "My people acted properly within the limits of their capabilities from the beginning."

Minister Plasterk also denounced the criticism. "It's nonsense", Plasterk said to broadcaster NOS. "Dutch aid workers did a very good job, including in enforcement, while that was a task of the local police. If the Dutch had not been there, the humanitarian disaster would be much bigger." Plasterk added that he called Prime Minister Marlin on Sunday night, and he denied giving the interview with NRC. "Very strange, I won't comment further on this."

Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert also told NOS that the Dutch soldiers did excellent work on Sint Maarten.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • Municipalities want Cabinet to raise minimum wage, welfare benefits
  • Fewer aggressive airline passengers at Schiphol after disappearance of face mask rule
  • Netherlands launches free meal at school program for struggling families
  • Ralph Hamers stepping down as CEO of Swiss bank UBS
  • Four kids hospitalized after tasting cocaine found in bushes near school
  • Cabinet will tackle voters' major concerns better, PM Rutte promises

Top stories

  • Ralph Hamers stepping down as CEO of Swiss bank UBS
  • Four kids hospitalized after tasting cocaine found in bushes near school
  • Cabinet will tackle voters' major concerns better, PM Rutte promises
  • Amsterdam tells British men to "stay away" if they plan to "go wild" on a visit
  • Cabinet crisis: Coalition leaders to discuss election landslide tonight
  • Upcoming hospitals strike cancelled after deal reached with unions

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content