Dutch minister responds on Curaçao concerns

The Dutch Minister for Kingdom Relations, Ronald Plasterk, appears to have been stung into a response by the national media coverage achieved this week on Curacao criticisms by two Dutch MPs (see previous reports).

Plasterk said Thursday that the allegations regarding Curacao corruption, inefficiency and internet gambling licensing in the online casino jurisdiction were not the business of the Netherlands government, and that only in cases where Curacao-licensed online operators accessed Dutch punters would the Ministry of Security and Justice react to enforce existing anti-online gambling laws.

Our readers will recall that over the past few months Dutch MPs Ronald Van Raak and Andre Bosman have been pressing for answers on what they allege is inefficiency and corruption in the island licensing jurisdictions of Curacao and St. Maartens.

Earlier this week the duo scored widespread publicity for their accusations by giving interviews to Dutch national radio and television broadcasters.

The duo have also accused the Curacao telecommunications monopoly, UTC of deep and unethical involvement in illegal online gambling activity, prompting the company to respond with a press release this week which accused the two MPs of besmirching its reputation and suggesting that they may have a “double agenda”.

The company has called upon local MPs to raise the activities of Van Raak and Bosman with the Dutch government in order to avoid Curacao becoming “a victim of Dutch interests.”

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