THE HAGUE – Dutch political party D66 is calling for the creation of a National Investment Bank to fund major sustainable projects across the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands, including the Caribbean islands. The proposal is part of the party’s draft election program “Het kan wél” (“Yes, it can be done”).
According to D66, the new bank would focus on long-term investments in areas such as climate, energy, technology, innovation, water, and soil. The party said that these ambitions require courage and long-term vision, and that the goal is to make the Kingdom stronger, cleaner, and more independent. The National Growth Fund would be restructured and incorporated into the new bank, which would be given a broader mandate and greater resources. Small and medium-sized businesses would also have access to its funding.
In a dedicated section titled “We are one Kingdom – Nos ta un Reino – We are one Kingdom”, D66 highlights the importance of equal opportunities and shared responsibility across all six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom. The party emphasizes that residents of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba are entitled to a secure livelihood, free from poverty and the threat of climate change, and that recognition of the shared past, including the legacy of slavery, forms the foundation for a common future.
D66 pledges to invest in building a green economy in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, alongside the development of affordable housing and the strengthening of education as a motor for equal opportunity. The party stresses that policies introduced in the European Netherlands should, in principle, also apply to the Caribbean Netherlands unless there are compelling reasons to deviate. For residents of Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba, the party promises to link the social minimum to the actual cost of living, while also investing in infrastructure, particularly on Bonaire, where population growth is placing added pressure on facilities.
The party also addresses the urgent impact of climate change in the Caribbean, announcing plans to accelerate the joint climate agenda and create specific climate strategies for each of the BES islands. Investments will continue in the restoration of nature, alongside measures to encourage sustainable food production. At the same time, D66 promises to lower barriers for residents of Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten to take part in European Parliament elections, underscoring that all citizens of the Kingdom must be able to fully participate in democratic life.
In addition, D66 reaffirms its commitment to continue working with all six islands on education and public awareness surrounding the history of slavery and its lasting consequences. The party insists that this recognition is not an endpoint but a commitment to build stronger, fairer relations within the Kingdom.
