State Secretary Zsolt Szabó makes his first working visit to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire
State Secretary Zsolt Szabó of Kingdom Relations and Digitalization will make a working visit to Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire from the 11th to the 16th of August 2024.
This is the first working visit of the new State Secretary to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. A visit to the Windward Islands will also follow later. This first trip is mainly to get to know the islands and administrators. During his visit, the State Secretary will meet with the governors, prime ministers and other ministers of Aruba and Curaçao, as well as with the Island Governor of Bonaire.
Aruba
The working visit of State Secretary Szabó will start on the 11th of August in Aruba, where he will meet with Governor Alfonso Boekhoudt, Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes and the other ministers of the Wever-Croes Cabinet. Zsolt Szabó will also meet with Edgar Vrolijk, chairman of parliament, and get to know the members of the Kingdom Relations Committee. Also on the program are a visit to the KIA prison and the Archivo Nacional Aruba, a tour of San Nicolas and a meeting with representatives of the business community. In addition, the State Secretary will be updated on the progress of the National Package.
Curaçao
On Tuesday, 13th of August, the State Secretary will travel to Curaçao, where a full programme also awaits him. For example, a meeting with Governor Lucille George-Wout, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas and the other ministers of the Pisas Cabinet are on the agenda, and the State Secretary will also meet with the chairman of parliament, Charetti America-Francisca and the members of the Kingdom Relations Committee. Furthermore, the State Secretary will be given a tour of the island, during which various important (economic) developments will be discussed and a meeting is planned with the National Reform Commission and the President of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Finally, the State Secretary will also meet with the partners in the field of Justice and visit the Parera Naval Base where he will receive a presentation on the activities of the Coast Guard.
Bonaire
After Curaçao, the State Secretary will travel to Bonaire, where he will have an introductory meeting with the new Island Governor John Soliano and acting Kingdom Representative Jan Helmond. During this trip, an introduction to the members of the Executive Council is also on the programme, a visit to the north side of Bonaire, the salt pans, Marine Park Bonaire and an introduction to the members of the Central Dialogue, a local consultative body of employers, trade unions, local government and the Chamber of Commerce.
On Friday, the 16th of August, State Secretary Szabó will travel back to the Netherlands.