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10 Antilliaans Dagblad Zaterdag 6 juli 2019
Curaçao

A temporary permit to Venezuelans?

the local population runs above
OPINIE
78 years and continues to inc-
By Alfredo Limongi rease.
uraçao is going through If we keep these two factors
one of its most difficult in mind, less local workers each
C moments in economic year, that finance the retirement
terms. There is no doubt about and medical expenses of a gro-
that. That is why many of the wing population of older peop-
citizens turn their face at the le, we have consequently a bud-
slightest suggestion of offering getary problem. The best way to
solidarity aid to Venezuelans balance these accounts, without
who, in large numbers, have having to increase the amount
reached West Indian soil in of taxes paid by each worker on
recent months. But is it really a the island, is to increase the
fallacy to think about this mo- number of people contributing
ment of solidarity with the vic- to the social funds. This inclu-
tims of the catastrophe that des charging taxes to those who
exists in Venezuela? do not pay today. In summary, far most of the Venezuelans that already reside on the island are very productive and work-
These are some of the rea- minded while also focused to return to their country once the living conditions over there have impro-
sons why it would be conve- The labor system is ved. Perfect candidates for temporary permit measures, especially knowing that it is mostly not the
nient for Curaçao to offer the already affected intention to migrate permanently.
Venezuelan refugees a tempora- There are many persons on
ry permit to stay and work. Curaçao who oppose the gran- the most part, are very focused mostly not the intention to better economic and/or social
ting of humanitarian treatment on being productive, since they migrate permanently. possibilities. They are simply to
The Social Funds to Venezuelans, saying that come from countries with a It is expensive to keep them survive with their families,
need more income Venezuelans could take away much more difficult reality than out of the legal system. But let’s given that they leave a territory
The cost of public services such their jobs. However, the reality those who live in more stable also talk about the costs of kee- that even without being at war,
as education, health, and safety is that the vast majority of Vene- countries. ping the Venezuelan refugees presents all the characteristics
in a country like Curaçao is, zuelans are already working on Even more favorable is the out of the legal framework of associated with an armed con-
proportionally, enormous. To the island. The problem is that fact that, according to a statisti- the island. To keep each Vene- flict.
finance these costs, each citizen by not working legally, they do cal study conducted in Curaçao zuelan in custody in the ‘Barak A few years ago, nobody
of productive age pays a certain not contribute to the payment by the International Organizati- of the Undocumented’, accor- could imagine that a situation
amount of taxes. The more of taxes for the development of on for Migration of the UN, the ding to the local Ministry of like this could arise in a country
workers contribute to the fund, the local economy, while at the majority of Venezuelans who Justice, it requires about 350 with as much wealth as Venezu-
the lower the percentage that same time, due to lower wages, are residing irregularly on the Antillean guilders per person, ela. However, in a very few
each of them must pay. employers find them more island, state that they do not per day. To this amount should years, we have witnessed the
But there are two factors in attractive to hire them. want to be helped in terms of be added the cost of police en- complete collapse of the econo-
Curaçao that affect the balance It should be pointed out, that food, housing, safety or health. deavors that in recent months my and all the basic services
year after year. the average age of people who They only want to obtain their have been specifically conduc- systems in Venezuela, as well as
In the first place, it is known have arrived from Venezuela in permits to be able to legally ted to the detention and depor- the dramatic deterioration of
that the amount of the local recent years is between 25 and work and thus solve for thems- tation of immigrants. respect for the human rights of
population (born in Curaçao) is 40 years. Those are persons elves all their economic and Would it not be better to its citizens.
decreasing. This is not only who have already passed their social needs. apply all those resources and
because of the emigration of education phase and who are Another factor that local efforts in improving the security Can this happen to
people to countries such as the going through their most pro- authorities should pay special conditions of the island? Would dushi Curaçao?
Netherlands but this is also ductive moments of life. This attention to is the fact that, not police forces be set in better Is Curaçao safe from a similar
caused by a low ‘fertility rate’, is ideal knowing that they according to the same survey, a use, for instance, in preventive landslide that Venezuela pre-
which rate refers to the number contribute with their taxes, high percentage of Venezuelans patrols, rather than in control sently is going through? Do we
of children each woman gives without generating excessive are willing to return to their operations? think that this can never hap-
birth to during her lifetime, expenses in terms of health or country as soon as favorable It is a fact that in recent years, pen on ‘dushi’ Curaçao? What
which in this case is only 1,7. pensions. conditions do rise again. many organizations and develo- should we expect from the in-
According to the World Bank, In summary, far most of ped countries have made im- ternational community in gene-
this number is considerably A productivity injection the Venezuelans that already portant donations to address the ral, and from neighboring coun-
below the necessary number for According to the statistics of the reside on the island are very problem of Venezuelan refu- tries in particular, if something
any country to maintain its United Nations of the year 2015, productive and work-minded gees. These funds have gone similar happens to us?
stable population (which num- 3 percent of the world populati- while also focused to return to mainly to countries such as The eyes of the world are
ber is two (2) births per woman) on consists of migrants. Howe- their country once the living Colombia and Brazil. This is currently focused on Venezuela
without the intervention of ver, their combined contributi- conditions over there have im- mainly because these donor and its migration crisis. Several
external factors. Therefore, as a ons to the GDP of the countries proved. Perfect candidates for organizations and governments agencies of the United Nations
direct result of advances in where they reside is 9 percent. temporary permit measures, support the humanitarian ef- frequently publish reports about
science, the ‘life expectancy’ of This is because migrants, for especially knowing that it is forts that are being made in the Venezuelan exodus, and
those regions. A good humani- what is mentioned in those
tarian management plan for the reports is mostly not very flatte-
Venezuelan refugees in Cura- ring for Curaçao. Humanity in
çao could without a doubt ob- its highest form, understands
tain immediate funding from that a crisis like the one that the
different organizations linked to Venezuelan migrants are expe-
the United Nations system, as riencing at the moment can
well as from the most powerful happen all over the world for it
governments in the world. is connected to the nature of the
human species. Curaçao is also
It is humanly correct not excluded from such a possi-
This last reason for establishing ble menace. Shouldn’t we bear
humanitarian management in such in mind when addressing
favor of refugees is undoubtedly the Venezuelan crisis and the
the main reason. It is a moral cruel migrant-effects it has been
obligation; it is what we must causing?
do as human beings helping
people fleeing a crisis of such Deze bijdrage publiceerde Alfredo
magnitude. Limongi op zijn blog. De oor-
This last reason for establishing humanitarian management in favor of refugees is undoubtedly the The people who are leaving spronkelijk Spaanstalige tekst is
main reason. It is a moral obligation; it is what we must do as human beings, helping people fleeing a Venezuela at present do not do door Vanessa Patrick in het
crisis of such magnitude. it simply because they look for Engels vertaald.