There is a need for a vision on what constitutes an acceptable level of social security in the Caribbean Netherlands and how the economies can develop sustainably. Due to the lack of such a vision, the objectives set in 2010, when Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands) were granted the status of public entities of the Netherlands, were partially missed. This is the conclusion of Koert van Buiren and Martijn Mak (both of the Economic Bureau Amsterdam) in an analysis. The analysis forms a chapter in the book Kroniek van een gebroken belofte (“Chronicle of a Broken Promise”), which reflects on fifteen years of the Caribbean Netherlands. To achieve an acceptable level of social security and sustainable economic development, it helps to lower the cost of living, for example, in the areas of energy and transportation.

Although the level of social security has improved on the islands, this improvement is not visible across the board. However, old-age benefits and social assistance amounts are now closer to the levels in the European Netherlands than in 2010, and child benefits are even higher than in the European Netherlands. However, it should be noted that the cost of living in the Caribbean Netherlands is considerably higher than in the European Netherlands. Furthermore, the minimum wage has risen sharply, but it remains just as far below the European Dutch level as it was fifteen years ago. However, there are also social facilities that are completely absent in the Caribbean Netherlands. For example, unemployment benefits and parental leave for the second parent are still lacking, and public transport and rent subsidies are not yet available everywhere in the Caribbean Netherlands.

The picture in terms of economic development is also mixed. There are indeed positive developments: poverty, unemployment, and (on Saba and St. Eustatius) income inequality have all decreased. At the same time, real GDP per capita has also declined, indicating a decline in prosperity. Furthermore, income inequality has increased on Bonaire, partly due to demographic developments.

The book Kroniek van een gebroken belofte can be downloaded here.