Deputy Prime Minister Sigrid Kaag today had “intense, but valuable” talks with various organizations on how the Netherlands should deal with its past slavery. He replaced Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who spoke to the Catshuis last Thursday. Today’s conversations covered, among other things, the past role of slavery in education and how racism should be fought, according to Kaag.
The cabinet wants to apologize for its past slavery and wanted to do so on December 19, but after the plans for it were leaked there has been unrest from interest groups. Some groups would prefer to see an apology made on July 1, when it will be 150 years since the end of slavery in the Dutch colonies. The Cabinet has never officially confirmed its intention to apologize on 19 December. On Thursday, Rutte said a “significant moment” was to come. The government will then officially respond to advice from the Slavery Past Dialogue Group.
Frank Weatherwind
Kaag will go to Suriname on Thursday to talk further with the Suriname government. Suriname had previously criticized plans for Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection) to apologize in the capital Paramaribo. Weerwind himself is of Surinamese origin. That’s why some think it’s not appropriate for him to apologize, because they think, for example, that he himself is entitled to an apology.
The deputy prime minister declined to comment further on the discussions. He says that “many things will happen in the coming days”. He also says that not all of the advisory committee’s recommendations will be adopted. Kaag declined to say which points the cabinet will not adopt.
Source: BNR
Fernando Dowling is an author and political journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of the political landscape and a passion for analyzing the latest political trends and news.
