THE HAGUE – A potential disagreement has emerged between Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Judith Uitermark, and State Secretary Zsolt Szabó regarding the allocation of the 66 million euro slavery fund designated for projects in Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten (CAS countries), as well as Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba (BES islands). The controversy stems from differing interpretations of how the fund should be utilized.
Conflicting Views on Fund Usage?
Szabó has suggested that the funds should support projects that contribute to economic growth and the standard of living in the islands. However, the official mandate of the fund is to support initiatives related to historical awareness, recognition, remembrance, and the societal impact of the transatlantic slave trade. While Uitermark did not directly contradict Szabó, she clarified that while economic development is not a prerequisite for funding projects, certain projects might have indirect economic benefits.
The issue came to light after the Party for the Animals (PvdD) faction in the Dutch Senate questioned whether the government was shifting focus away from the original intent of the slavery fund.
Government Responses to Key Questions
The government has reaffirmed that the 66 million euro is strictly reserved for initiatives related to the transatlantic slavery past. This includes projects focused on historical education, collective remembrance, and addressing the ongoing impact of slavery on Caribbean societies.
Some key points of clarification include:
A 1.7 million euro budget has been allocated to a public awareness campaign on discrimination. The campaign aims to educate the public on how to report discrimination, increase trust in reporting agencies, and remove barriers to filing complaints.
The campaign does not solely focus on slavery-related discrimination but includes broader anti-discrimination efforts. However, the government emphasized that it would still incorporate elements of racial discrimination rooted in the legacy of slavery.
Economic empowerment and resilience-building projects related to the slavery past can be considered for funding as long as they align with the official mandate of the fund.
Clarifications on Economic Development and Slavery Fund Eligibility
One of the most pressing concerns raised was whether projects aimed at directly improving economic conditions in the Caribbean fall under the slavery fund’s objectives. The Dutch Senate was particularly interested in whether Szabó’s remarks on funding economic projects aligned with the fund’s legal framework.
Uitermark confirmed that the slavery fund does not finance general economic development initiatives. However, projects that focus on economic empowerment related to the historical effects of slavery—such as business training for descendants of enslaved people or support for cultural industries impacted by colonial history—could be eligible. This means that while general infrastructure or tourism projects may not qualify, initiatives that foster economic resilience through a historical and cultural lens could receive support.
Additional Budget Adjustments
A separate issue was raised by the Volt party faction, which sought clarification on an 800,000-euro budget adjustment related to the implementation of Article 14 of the slavery fund policy. The government responded that this amount had been reallocated within the existing budget of the Directorate-General for Kingdom Relations and would not affect the slavery fund’s primary objectives. The reallocation ensures that planned activities will continue as intended.
What This Means for the Caribbean Islands
The debate over the slavery fund highlights broader tensions regarding economic support for Caribbean territories. While the Dutch government has taken steps to acknowledge its colonial past, there is ongoing scrutiny over whether financial commitments are being directed toward meaningful reparative justice or diluted into broader economic initiatives.
Caribbean leaders and communities will likely continue to monitor how the fund is distributed, ensuring that the original intent of acknowledging, remembering, and addressing the consequences of slavery is upheld. Meanwhile, discussions within the Dutch government will determine whether additional economic measures should be pursued separately from the slavery fund to support sustainable development in the islands.
