WILLEMSTAD - Curaçao only sends relief goods to Venezuela if they can enter that country without resistance. That is what the Curaçao government has emphasized last weekend. The first cargo of relief supplies for the people of Venezuela arrived last week in Curaçao, with the intention of storing them there until transport to Venezuela is possible. For the time being, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is opposed to most humanitarian aid.

Nevertheless, a ship departed from Curaçao to Venezuela last weekend. It arrived on the island on Friday but now wants to transport humanitarian relief goods collected in South Florida by Venezuelan immigrants.

The Curaçao government has announced on Saturday that the organizers of the transport have declared to customs that they now want to leave with the products to Bonaire. From there they want to go to Venezuela. Because it is a private transport through a commercial company, Curaçao cannot stop the ship.

Curaçao is a pivot in the aid to the ailing population of neighboring Venezuela. The Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó and the United States have asked for this. The Netherlands and Curaçao agreed to this. Guaidó has been recognized by the Netherlands as interim leader.

Undersecretary Raymond Knops (Home Affairs and Kingdom Relations) already informed the Dutch Parliament on Friday that Curaçao and Bonaire will receive extra assistance from the Netherlands. For example, the Ministry of Justice and Security will provide training and education in areas such as the identification and registration of migrants from Venezuela. The Curaçao government had asked for this.

There are thousands of Venezuelans on the islands. These are Venezuelans who have not returned after the maximum period of residence as a tourist or after the expiry of a temporary residence permit. In addition, many Venezuelans come to Curaçao illegally by boats.