WILLEMSTAD – During a parliamentary debate on the economic development of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, Dutch MP Peter van Haasen of the PVV emphasized the importance of economic self-reliance for the islands, while strongly opposing the planned CO₂ tax on airline tickets from 2027 — unless the Dutch Caribbean is granted an exemption.
Van Haasen opened his remarks by referencing the original Charter of the Kingdom, signed by Queen Juliana, which declares “relying on our own strength” as a principle. According to the MP, that principle contrasts sharply with the hundreds of millions of euros the Netherlands sends to the Caribbean annually. He also pointed to the over €1.3 billion in emergency support provided during the COVID-19 crisis as evidence of the financial dependence that persists.
“For the PVV, economic independence is crucial — not only to reduce reliance on the Netherlands, but also to restore pride and self-respect among our Caribbean compatriots,” said Van Haasen.
He acknowledged that the region’s economy is recovering, mainly thanks to a booming tourism sector. But he warned that its overreliance on tourism leaves it vulnerable to external shocks from Europe or the United States. “One shock, and everything shuts down,” he said, urging real economic diversification beyond promises on paper.
Van Haasen criticized the limited execution capacity of local governments and questioned who is truly “taking the reins” — a reference to the government conference recently summarized in a letter from State Secretary Zsolt Szabó. That letter listed food security, trade and connectivity, and the blue economy as key priorities for the islands.
“Those are good starting points,” Van Haasen noted. “But to truly lower food prices and make local production profitable, small-scale projects are not enough. We need large-scale approaches, like using the OWAC cooling system — already tested for hotels — to power greenhouse farming.”
He also raised concerns about the underutilization of Curaçao’s port and the limited operating hours that prevent it from reaching its full trade potential.
However, Van Haasen’s strongest criticism came in response to the planned CO₂ tax on airline tickets. He called it a direct threat to affordable air travel to and from the Caribbean. “Tourism, trade, education, healthcare — everything depends on affordable air connections for all six islands,” he said. “During COVID, when tourism stopped, the economy collapsed and we had to step in. If we now undermine tourism ourselves with this tax, we’re digging our own financial grave.”
The PVV has called on the Dutch government to grant an exemption for the Dutch Caribbean, just as France has done for its overseas territories. “France and the Netherlands share not only an airline, but also an island — Sint Maarten,” Van Haasen argued. “Why then should the Dutch side suffer higher travel costs while the French side does not?”
He concluded with a clear message to the Minister of Economic Affairs: either arrange the exemption or expect a parliamentary motion to enforce it.
