Motion filed for better child care in the Caribbean Netherlands

Children in the Caribbean Netherlands deserve more attention and better care. In the past many plans have been made to improve their situation, but the funds that have been made available have not been spent entirely. Therefore, Christian Union (CU) filed a motion in the Dutch Parliament’s Second Chamber to improve the position of children and their rights in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba.

“The Christian Union has been paying attention to the position and rights of children on the islands for a long time. They have the same rights as the children in the Netherlands. We must do everything we can to make this happen in practice. Financial resources that are available to make improvements in the care and support for these children are not fully spent and that worries us,” said CU Member of Parliament Stieneke van der Graaf.

Therefore, CU filed a motion to urge the Dutch Government to make technical assistance available to the public entities and to local organisations on the three islands.

Considering that not all funds have been depleted yet and projects will continue next year, the motion requests that the Dutch government inform the Second Chamber, before the 2019 summer budget debate, about the progress of current projects.

In case there is a lack of funds, the cabinet is urged to find alternative financing for projects that contribute to improving the position and rights of children in Bonaire, Statia and Saba and to inform the Second Chamber on this.

The motion also calls on government to ensure enhanced coordination between the relevant ministries and the public entities in the field of youth care and child protection in the Caribbean Netherlands.