Dutch deputy minister travels to Antilles

Dutch Deputy Minister for Kingdom Relations Ank Bijleveld will visit the Netherlands Antilles this week. She will ask for information about the result of an investigation into the disappearance on Bonaire of the 24-year-old Dutch woman Marlies van der Kouwe, who was working on the island as a trainee pharmacist assistant.

She will also hold talks on political reforms. So far there has been little progress in negotiations on a new police law and the supervision of the islands’ finances. Ms Bijleveld told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that she has high hopes of achieving results during this week’s visit. Today she is visiting Aruba and on Tuesday she will arrive on Bonaire. On Wednesday, she will travel to Curaçao.