The Dutch government denies ever threatening to suspend financial assistance to Aruba because of its low COVID-19 vaccination rate during the pandemic, NoticiaCla reported on October 28, citing a report by dossierkoninkrijksrelaties.nl.
The denial came in response to parliamentary questions from FvD member Van Houwelingen, following statements by Aruba hospital director Vroegop, who had claimed that former State Secretary Blokhuis made such a threat.
Minister Sterk rejects the allegation
Minister Sterk rejected the allegation, maintaining that the Netherlands worked constructively with the Aruban authorities and healthcare professionals throughout the pandemic.
At the same time, the minister could not identify the specific meeting Vroegop mentioned, and therefore did not provide its agenda or minutes, according to the report.
A claim and a denial, years after the pandemic
The exchange revives a sensitive episode in Kingdom relations from the pandemic period: a senior Aruba hospital figure’s claim that COVID support was linked to vaccination performance, and a formal Dutch denial that any such threat was made.
As reported, the government’s answer leaves one gap: without being able to identify the meeting Vroegop referred to, the minister supplied no agenda or minutes for it. No Aruba government response to the denial was included in the report.
Van Houwelingen’s questions were prompted by Vroegop’s statements about the pandemic period, in which the hospital director said former State Secretary Blokhuis had threatened to suspend support over Aruba’s vaccination rate. In its answer, as reported by NoticiaCla on October 28, the government rejected that account and pointed instead to constructive cooperation with Aruban authorities and healthcare professionals throughout the pandemic.
Sources: NoticiaCla
