The Prime minister stated that the money was not given to Aruba; however, it is set as a budget for the assistance that will be provided to Aruba and Curacao. That is the reason the Aruba Government has been listing the needs so that the Netherlands can provide assistance based on the priorities on the list. The local authorities are now in the process of submitting the list of needed things to help address the ongoing migratory crisis of Venezuelans.
The list includes more radars, more protection and coast surveillance, more boats to help with coastal surveillance and more assistance with the asylum seeking process.
“We need more boats for the Coastguard, more agents to cover more hours. At the IND, where the asylum seeking process is handled there is more manpower and funds needed to also cover longer hours to process the requests for asylum more efficiently. Urgent handling of asylum seekers is essential. The Government is also considering the impact the migration has on our education system, healthcare (vaccines), justice (extend detention capacity)”.
According to the Prime Minister, the 23.8 million euros will not just be split between the island of Aruba and Curacao. The available funds cannot be used towards creating housing or any other similar projects for the migrants. The available funds are specifically destined for the fortification of Aruba as island, to make Aruba safer to be able to cope with the crisis in the best possible way.
The Government is in constant deliberation with the Netherlands to complete the list with the requirements set by the Netherlands. This can take some time but the department in charge is doing its utmost best, working even during weekends to try to complete the list and have this send to the Netherlands.
Soon a delegation of the Organization for American States “OAS” will be in Aruba for a presentation on the impact of the Venezuelan crisis. The OAS will have a plenary session in Colombia where the impact of the crisis will be presented. Aruba and Curacao have been included in the plenary session after the meeting of the Prime Minister of Aruba with the Secretary General of the OAS, Mr. Almagro in Washington.
Prime Minister Wever-Croes stated that she hopes this will make everybody understand the situation of Aruba and will help with finding funds. The situation in Venezuela remains difficult. The impact on our island is immense. She does not see a short term solution.
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