PHILIPSBURG, WILLEMSTAD – According to the parliamentary delegation of Curaçao at the IPKO in St. Maarten, the refugee problem is something that has to be dealt with on the Kingdom level. The countries in the Kingdom can continue arguing and the Netherlands can say that it is up to each island how to deal with thus problem, but in the end, the smaller countries in the Kingdom cannot deal with this problem alone.

The lack of facilities and funds are the major reasons mentioned by the delegation. This is according to the MP for MAN Giselle Mc William during the interparliamentary consultations between the four parliaments of the Kingdom.

According to Mc William, each country interprets this issue in their own way. Politics in The Hague believes a certain way, Curaçao has its point as well as the other islands. The Committee on Human Rights is also giving its opinion on this issue.

The Netherlands keeps insisting that it is a local problem and that they would not interfere but in the sentence, they say that according to article 36 of the Constitution, in uncontrollable cases, the one involved must receive assistance. In this case, the islands must receive help from the Netherlands.

The problem, according to the Curaçao MP, is that Curaçao is not even technically or financially prepared to carry this heavy burden which keeps growing every day.

Curaçao has also received support from St. Maarten, which in the past has shown a more passive stance on these types of issues.