THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD – Official delegations from Curacao and the Netherlands are trying to set out the lines for a “package deal” that should make it unnecessary for the Council of Ministers to decide to give the Cabinet Rhuggenaath a budgetary instruction.

Sources in The Hague give the attempt a considerable chance of success, although they do not assume that there will already be a final agreement at the end of this week. The purpose of the official consultation is to determine the route by which the government finances of Curacao can be put in order and the pace at which that must be done.

The government in Willemstad is said to be prepared to take additional measures in line with earlier advice from the Financial Supervision Board to reduce spending and increase income. The Netherlands would like to “actively facilitate” this process, which also explicitly looks at how to help boost the Curacao economy.

If it is possible to reach an outline agreement, the budgetary instruction can be dismissed, and the details will be worked on in the coming weeks.