Working Visit by State Secretary Eric van der Burg to the Leeward Islands
KRALENDIJK - State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Eric van der Burg will pay a working visit to the Leeward Islands from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October. In Bonaire, the agenda includes the political and administrative situation, Selibon Lagún, tourism and the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands (RCN).
The State Secretary will arrive in Bonaire from Aruba on Tuesday 13 October. That day will be devoted to administrative talks, including with Island Governor John Soliano and the Executive Council. They will discuss the political and administrative situation on the island and the progress of the agreements in the coalition accord.
Van der Burg will also discuss the current situation and operations with the management of waste company Selibon Lagún. The implementation of the Administrative Agreement on the Approach to Selibon Lagún will also be addressed. In addition, he will hold talks with the Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association and Tourism Corporation Bonaire about the development of tourism on the island.
On the morning of Wednesday 14 October, the State Secretary will visit the National Office for the Caribbean Netherlands (RCN). The focus there will be on, among other things, service provision, digitalisation and an effective government. Van der Burg will visit various departments of the RCN and speak with employees. For the rest of the day, he will visit customs and the port. He will conclude the Bonaire part of his working visit with a meeting at the Chamber of Commerce about the business climate on the island.
Aruba: start of the working visit
The working visit begins on Monday 12 October in Aruba. Van der Burg will have an audience with Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt and hold administrative talks, including with Prime Minister Mike Eman and Minister Gerlien Croes, whose portfolio includes Kingdom Relations.
He will then visit the One of A Kind Café Aruba run by the Trampolin pa Trabou foundation, where people who are distanced from the labour market gain work experience. At the Marine Barracks in Savonet, he will receive an explanation of the work of the marines in Aruba and of the Social Development Programme for young people. This programme aims to improve young people’s prospects through physical training and by instilling structure, norms and values.
The State Secretary will then visit the former site of the Lago refinery, where he will hear more about the redevelopment plans for the coming years. The day will end at the Korrectie Instituut Aruba (KIA), where he will be informed about the current conditions, challenges and successes.
On Tuesday 13 October, Van der Burg will first visit Queen Beatrix International Airport. There he will be briefed on the work carried out under the ‘strengthening border control’ project. He will then fly on to Bonaire.
Curaçao: concluding with Justice and the Navy
On Thursday 15 October, the State Secretary will arrive in Curaçao. He will have an audience with Governor Mauritsz de Kort and hold administrative talks, including with Prime Minister Pisas and the Council of Ministers of Curaçao. He will also be briefed on topics such as secure borders and neighbourhood development.
On the final day of the working visit, Friday 16 October, Van der Burg will meet with the President of the Joint Court of Justice and the Secretary of the Financial Supervision Board. He will also attend the Navy’s sailing day, a special voyage organised by the Royal Netherlands Navy and other branches of the armed forces for invited guests, chain partners and other stakeholders.
