Dutch PM announces annual Kingdom Conference with Aruba, Curaçao, & Sint-Maarten

Prime Minister Rob Jetten confirmed on Wednesday that the first annual Kingdom conference involving Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, and the Netherlands is set to take place this year. Where and when the meeting will be held has not yet been announced. The location and date of the conference are still unknown.

Jetten has expressed openness to changing the agreements that govern cooperation between the four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Throughout his week-long tour of Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Bonaire, Aruba, and Curaçao, he emphasized the importance of improving ties and reinforcing solidarity within the kingdom.

Jetten confirmed on Wednesday that the first annual Kingdom conference involving Sint Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, and the Netherlands is set to take place this year. Where and when the meeting will be held has not yet been announced. The location and date of the conference are still unknown.

Gilmar Pisas, the prime minister of Curaçao, said the time has come for more equal relations within the kingdom and that he intends to address the matter at the upcoming conference. Both Pisas and Jetten said they aim to make tangible progress on the issue before the end of the year. “We are both people of concrete action,” Pisas remarked.

Jetten stressed that he no longer wants the Netherlands to intervene in the affairs of the other countries, but instead to provide support so the islands can handle matters themselves. During several discussions, representatives on the islands also said there is a strong desire for the Netherlands not to interfere in day-to-day governance.

A number of recent reports have concluded that the three special municipalities remain disadvantaged compared with the European Netherlands across a wide range of areas. Differences in legislation persist, poverty rates on the islands are significantly higher, and education standards are frequently lower.

For Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, the Netherlands is required to contribute to improvements because they are special municipalities. Jetten said significant resources are being directed toward reducing poverty on the islands.

In the kingdom’s three Caribbean countries, however, the Dutch government intends to focus primarily on sharing knowledge and expertise instead of providing direct financial assistance.