Mona Keijzer launches political 'movement,' stops short of forming party

The former interim director of ARBO Consult in Curaçao has been ordered to repay all wages improperly collected during his tenure after it was discovered he held a second employment contract in the Netherlands simultaneously. ARBO Consult, the island's occupational health and safety authority, was not informed of this second job, which the former director actively concealed. Holding dual employment without disclosure violated the terms of his contract with ARBO, rendering his salary payments unlawful. The case highlights concerns about transparency and governance within public or semi-public institutions in Curaçao. The former director is now financially liable for the full amount he received while in the interim role. This matter underscores the importance of conflict-of-interest policies for officials in leadership positions on the island.

A lottery system will determine which of 27 submitted applications for slavery heritage subsidies in Curaçao will receive a full review, raising concerns about fairness in the process. The organization FEBEKO has warned that more than twenty of the submitted plans may never be evaluated at all under this approach. The subsidy program is connected to efforts to acknowledge and address the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, a historically significant issue for Curaçao. Critics argue that using a lottery to filter applications is an arbitrary and unjust method for allocating funds tied to such a sensitive and important cultural matter. The situation highlights broader tensions around how governments and institutions prioritize and distribute resources meant to reckon with colonial history. It remains unclear how the lottery process was established or whether applicants have any avenue to appeal if their plan is excluded from review.

After an extended period of inactivity, Curaçao's Tripartite Dialogue — a formal consultative body bringing together government, employers, and labor unions — has been restarted. The initiative is being led by the Minister of Social Affairs and aims to restore structured communication between the three key stakeholders in the island's labor and economic landscape. The Tripartite Dialogue serves as a platform for negotiating issues related to employment, wages, working conditions, and broader socioeconomic policy. Its revival signals a renewed commitment from all parties to address outstanding labor concerns through coordinated discussion rather than confrontation. The relaunch is seen as a positive step toward social stability on the island, particularly given ongoing economic pressures facing workers and businesses alike.