Dutch MPs demand clarity over alleged pressure on Aruba to raise vaccination rate

THE HAGUE — Recent statements by Horacio Oduber Hospital director Jacco Vroegop about alleged Dutch pressure on Aruba during the Covid-19 pandemic have now led to formal questions in the Dutch House of Representatives.

FVD MP Pepijn van Houwelingen has submitted five questions to the Dutch health minister. He wants to know whether former State Secretary Paul Blokhuis really threatened to stop financial support to Aruba if the island’s vaccination rate did not increase.

Van Houwelingen is also asking when the meeting referred to by Vroegop took place, who attended it and whether Parliament can receive the agenda and minutes.

In addition, he wants all communication from 2021 between the Dutch Ministry of Health and Aruba concerning the vaccination rate.

Vroegop previously said the warning was made during an online meeting in December 2021, at a time when Aruba was under severe economic pressure because of the pandemic. Noticiacla published his account on September 5.

The parliamentary questions now put the matter directly before the Dutch government, which will have to clarify whether financial assistance during the pandemic was in fact linked to Aruba’s vaccination rate.