The four Parliaments of the Dutch kingdom meet in The Hague late this week (see related story) for an Inter-Parliamentary Kingdom Consultation IPKO. It will be preceded by a tripartite session between the delegations of Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten.
Some have questioned the sense of these biannual gatherings over the years. They argue that while legislators may agree on certain things, it is the Kingdom Council of Ministers RMR dominated by the government of the Netherlands that ultimately calls the shots.
One example is the – again – proposed regulation to settle disputes in the kingdom. Although elected representatives of the four countries have long approved such, any binding arrangement was in principle opposed by the RMR.
Nevertheless, IPKO encounters appear to have contributed to greater mutual understanding. Take the aviation tax issue.
For years, policymakers in The Hague have taken actions that, while perhaps well-intentioned from a European perspective, overlooked unique realities of the Dutch Caribbean. The recent decision to exempt the islands from a January 1, 2027, tax hike for long-haul flights from the Netherlands recognises the importance of sustainable tourism for their vulnerable economies.
Besides, unlike many other destinations that can be reached by trains or car, they depend on airlift to survive. The hospitality sector it is their number one source of income, the engine that drives jobs, investment and government revenue.
The Netherlands is a major visitors market, particularly for Curaçao, where any significant tax increase on tickets could have been devastating. It probably would have discouraged travellers, raised expenses for local families and weakened an industry already under pressure from global competition and rising expenses.
By keeping ticket taxes at their current level for the Dutch Caribbean, The Hague has ensured that the islands remain more accessible to Europeans. This protects not only their interests, but that of the kingdom as a whole.
