Venezuela Reopens Sea, Air Links to Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao

As part of a new agreement signed between Venezuela and Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, the South American country on Monday reopened air and sea links to the islands after it had temporarily curbed the use of these links in January to fight smuggling and illegal market activities which Venezuela said were affecting its economy.

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An Aruba Airlines plane took off from the Arturo Michelena International Airport, in Valencia, Carabobo state, some 150 km (93 miles) from Caracas, Monday morning to the Aruban capital of Oranjestad.  

Transport Minister Carlos Osorio made the reopening announcement during a broadcast segment on 'Venezolana de Televisión' (VTV). 

"After a series of meetings that we have been carrying out with the representatives of the islands and reaching an agreement, President Nicolás Maduro has given us the instruction to reactivate, as of Monday, progressively the maritime and air traffic with Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire," Osorio said.  

Osorio said his country would monitor all the commercial activities between Venezuela and the islands by maintaining records of vessels which enter and exit the South American nation. 

"We will continue reviewing the links of each one of the exchanges that are made from the maritime as well as the aerial point of view," Osario added. 

The minister said it was necessary to monitor these activities for the safety of the people in transit and ensure that the activities remained within the legal framework.

On Thursday, citing money laundering, Venezuela cut economic ties with Panama, including Copa Airlines.