The Chairpersons of the First and Second Chamber, Ankie Broekers-Knol en Anouchka van Miltenburg continued their working visit to the Caribbean Netherlands on Thursday October 23rd on Bonaire. In the morning the Coast Guard transported them from Curacao to Bonaire, and during the trip explained in detail about their work. Upon arrival the delegation was received by Island Governor Edison Rijna and Kingdom Representative Gilbert Isabella. The Chairpersons had a meeting with members of the Executive Council, the Island Council and representatives of social organizations. Afterwards a visit was paid to Fundashon Mariadal. The working visit concluded with a meeting with youth from different age groups at Jong Bonaire. The young people shared how they feel about their island and the future.
The Chairpersons found that Bonaire is clearly different than Saba, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten and Curacao. “ It sounds cliché, but it is really so”, says van Miltenburg. “The nature is different, the culture and people who live here, and each island has its own problems and perspectives.” Broekers-Knol: “ When I told “persons who visited previously” that I would be visiting the Caribbean part of the Kingdom, they said I would return different- in the positive sense! And that is true. It is so good that we both experienced how wonderful the Caribbean part of the Kingdom is, where there are problems, but also what wonderful chances and opportunities there are.
The most beautiful moment of the day? For the Chairpersons that was the visit to Jong Bonaire. Van Miltenburg.” “What special people we have met there! Young people with dreams, concrete ideas and a lot of drive. And not forgetting: we now know how to make iguana soup.”