The inequality between the European Netherlands and the Caribbean Netherlands is so large that the government in The Hague might be guilty of discrimination. This is the conclusion of the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism (NCDR) after conducting its own research.
Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius have been special municipalities of the Netherlands for over fifteen years. Despite repeated promises from politicians about equality, residents still have a daily struggle against major disadvantages, the NCDR notes. For example, about one in three residents of the Caribbean Netherlands live in poverty, while access to healthcare is limited, and parts of the school system do not meet basic quality standards. Often, traveling between the islands is also expensive and difficult.
‘Democratic failure’
In recent years, the government has stated that the disadvantages in the special municipalities have been so large since 2010 that improvements will simply take time. “How much longer? There is always an argument for not doing something,” says National Coordinator Rabin Baldewsingh. “I consider this a democratic failure.”
Furthermore, the differences in policy and laws are not always clearly explained and lead to unfair situations. In its advice, the NCDR calls on the Dutch cabinet to come up with permanent solutions instead of constantly using temporary measures.
For example, residents of the Caribbean municipalities are not entitled to unemployment benefits (WW). The cabinet plans to introduce these still for the Caribbean Netherlands, but only as a temporary measure. Residents could then receive a maximum of three months of benefits, while residents in the European Netherlands can receive a minimum of three months.
National Coordinator Rabin Baldewsingh
The report also refers to a recent court case about protection against climate change for Bonaire. In that case, the judge ruled that the ban on discrimination from the European Convention on Human Rights was being violated.
