Minister Overrules Advisory Board, Appoints Technical Expert to Marshe Foundation

Since 2021, elderly residents of Curaçao have had a legal right to annual indexation of their AOV old-age pension, but the government has failed to implement it. According to politician Mc William, the current AOV benefit should stand at 1,050 florins rather than the 1,000 XCG currently paid out. He accuses the MFK-led government of hiding behind the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), which he says has been unable to calculate the required economic growth figure since August. Mc William stressed that the AOV is a legal right, not a favor granted by the government. The failure to index the pension is being attributed not to legal or technical barriers, but to a deliberate lack of political will. This directly impacts Curaçao's senior citizens, who are receiving less than what the law entitles them to. The issue raises broader concerns about government accountability and the protection of social welfare rights on the island.

Curaçao Parliament President Fergino Brownbill has expressed agreement with MAN-PIN faction leader Giselle Mc William over the government's failure to respond to official parliamentary inquiry letters. The issue was raised during a public parliamentary session on Monday, where Brownbill acknowledged the problem and indicated his support for addressing it. The complaint centers on letters containing parliamentary questions that are being sent to the government but receiving no formal reply. Brownbill signaled that a stronger administrative structure is needed to ensure the government is held accountable for responding to Parliament's questions in a timely manner. This matter touches on the fundamental checks and balances between the legislative and executive branches of Curaçao's government, raising concerns about transparency and institutional accountability.

At the opening of the 2025/2026 parliamentary year in Willemstad, Curaçao, MAN-PIN faction leader Giselle Mc William once again raised concerns about a growing backlog of unanswered written questions submitted to the government. Mc William described the situation as alarming, warning that it is undermining the proper functioning of parliament. The lawmaker has raised this issue before, indicating the problem is ongoing and unresolved. She is calling for a more effective system to handle parliamentary motions and ensure the government responds to oversight requests in a timely manner. The failure to answer parliamentary questions is seen as a democratic accountability issue, as it limits legislators' ability to scrutinize government actions. Mc William's repeated complaints suggest the government has not taken corrective action despite previous warnings.