State Secretary for Kingdom Relations Zsolt Szabó confirmed to the Dutch Parliament (see related story) that the Caribbean National Growth Fund programme for sustainable development in which his predecessor Alexandra van Huffelen had allocated 130 million euros has been cancelled due to budget cuts. Instead, 80 million euros will be redirected toward projects such as food production and infrastructure.
He added that the responsibility for implementing such initiatives lies with Curaçao, Aruba and St. Maarten. That is a clear challenge for their governments to take decisive action on these options.
Especially investment in food production should be a priority. Global events over the last five years and most recently the protectionist trade policies of newly-elected US President Donald Trump have led to a sharp rise in the cost of living. Putting meals on the table is becoming increasingly difficult for residents.
Their extreme dependence on overseas food imports make the three autonomous Dutch Caribbean countries quite vulnerable. While Curaçao and Aruba have already made considerable strides in this regard, St. Maarten is lagging behind.
Although producing on-island all that is consumed, including by visitors who drive the tourism economy, would obviously be an unrealistic goal, even limited progress can make a significant difference. For example, grocery shoppers will have noted the availability of relatively cheap local eggs, when their prices abroad are soaring also due to the bird virus.
If there was ever a time to take agriculture, fisheries and livestock breeding more seriously that would be now. Support your farmers.
