Venezuela: Transport links with Dutch islands remain suspended /update 1

Event

The Venezuelan government has confirmed that an ongoing ban on all flights and maritime services connecting the country with the nearby Dutch Caribbean islands of Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba will remain in effect indefinitely. The suspension was initially implemented on January 5 as part of an anti-smuggling initiative.

Context

The government claims that the smuggling of Venezuelan goods out of the country is rampant, notably towards these islands, and that it has led to major domestic shortages. Most outside observers, however, place the blame for the country's current economic turmoil on poor management of the planned national economy, coupled with a sharp drop in government revenue due to falls in the price of oil, Venezuela's main export.

Advice

Affected individuals are advised to contact their transportation provider for more information.