For now there won’t be an end to the border closure between Venezuela and Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. This week, the vice-president of Venezuela, Tareck El Aissami, announced on Twitter that the closure will be extended. The shortage of fruit and vegetables is starting to become increasingly serious on the islands.
The main reason for the closure is the smuggling of Venezuelan goods. According to Venezuelan authorities, many stolen goods are traded on the boats that transport fruit and vegetables to Curaçao every day, such as silver and gold. The food shortage in Venezuela itself is another argument for the closure. President Maduro told the people of Venezuela that the fruit and vegetables normally exported to the Netherlands Antilles are much-needed to feed the Venezuelans now.
The borders will only open once a solution to this problem is found. On Friday, a meeting between Venezuela and the UK will take place.