The recent arrival of a Venezuelan oil tanker in Curaçao has sparked political scrutiny in the Netherlands (see related story). Dutch Member of Parliament (MP) Christine Teunissen, representing the Party for the Animals, expressed clear concern that this involvement in handling Venezuelan crude could be interpreted as condoning a situation tied to recent geopolitical developments in the region including US military and other actions targeting Venezuelan oil exports.
Among her key questions were whether the Dutch government was informed beforehand, how it views Curaçao’s positioning as a potential fossil fuel transit hub, and whether this aligns with broader Dutch and European Union (EU) climate objectives aimed at reducing reliance on such. She also wanted to know whether Dutch companies might benefit from the arrangement and what steps government will take to promote alternative economic paths that do not hinge on oil storage.
Perhaps the elected representative in The Hague does not quite realise what the prolonged closure of the Isla refinery and related facilities has meant for the island and its people in socioeconomic terms. An increase in visitors particularly from the European part of the Kingdom thankfully helped fill that gap, but as often pointed out by authorities in The Hague, depending on tourism too makes the destination vulnerable.
On the other hand, Forum for Democracy FvD hopes that Curaçao will benefit significantly from the storage of Venezuelan oil. MP Peter van Duijvenvoorde asked what opportunities government sees to leverage these developments for economic growth, employment and knowledge development on the island.
Notably, both legislators mentioned the Netherlands also taking advantage of the current situation. Apparently cited possible geopolitical implications are not serious enough to exclude the latter.
With all due respect, when it comes to interests of the Dutch Caribbean, it’s high time politicians in The Hague get real.
