Animals on Sint-Eustatius die because of severe drought

Many animals are victims of the continuous drought on Sint-Eustatius. The cattle on the island of the Caribbean Netherlands are dying and are severely neglected. Because the local government is failing to take action, Marianne Thieme has submitted Parliamentary Questions to call on the cabinet to appeal to the local government and stop this neglect.

Over 500 inhabitants of Sint-Eustatius have asked the local government by means of a petition to take action against neglecting farm animals during the drought. The island has many straying farm animals. These animals have severe problems because of the drought. They are very thin and are not looked after by their owners. Also animals that are kept within fences are often neglected and die as a result of dehydration and starvation. The local government has not yet intervened to protect the animals against neglect and dehydration.

Animal welfare is an island competence and must initially be enforced by the government of Sint-Eustatius. But if the island government refuses to enforce animal welfare, the Dutch government will have to interfere.

Thieme: “Neglecting animals is unacceptable. Within the Kingdom of the Netherlands there should not be any difference in the degree of animal protection.“