Government seeking ways to address the influx of Venezuelans

PHILIPSBURG — There are ongoing discussions between the Netherlands and the governments of the French and the Dutch sides of the island on the influx of Venezuelans. According to reports millions of Venezuelans have left their homeland on the South American continent in search of what is described as “a better life” in the islands of the former Netherlands Antilles, the Caribbean and South America.

Prime Minister Leona Romero-Marlin when questioned about this situation said that she is aware that the numbers are growing since there are a number of persons on the streets searching for jobs. The matter is being discussed with the Minister of Justice Cornelius De Weever and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Stef Blok of the Netherlands.

She pointed out that “we are not having problems as our sister islands of Curacao and Aruba but nevertheless we are looking into it and having discussions with the French St. Martin authorities,” she said.  While French St. Martin has the authority to allow Venezuelans into the island there are no physical borders to prevent them from coming on the Dutch side of the island.

These discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands and the Collectivité to see how they can combat it together since it is a growing problem, said Prime Minister Romeo-Marlin.

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