WILLEMSTAD - The discussion on the 2024 draft budget in Parliament is on the verge of facing another delay. The impending Tumba Festival, commencing on January 22, raises the likelihood of the parliamentary debate being rescheduled. Originally slated for the same day, Members of Parliament were set to engage in deliberations over the 2024 budget, with an entire week allocated for this crucial task.
Rennox Calmes, Member of Parliament and spokesperson for TPK, expresses apprehension about the potential pitfalls of holding the budget debate in tandem with the Tumba Festival week. He highlights concerns about fatigue among MPs leading to potential mistakes. Calmes further emphasizes that dedicating the week entirely to the musicians participating in the Festival, vying for the title of Rei or Reina di Tumba, would be fitting.
The approval of the proposal for a delay remains uncertain. If accepted, the budget debate would be rescheduled for the week of January 30 to February 2. However, the current indications suggest that the agenda for this period is already brimming with commitments. The final decision rests with Parliament Speaker Charetti America-Francisca (MFK).
Initially slated for December of the preceding year, the debate on the draft budget was deferred to January due to the passing of former Member of Parliament Amerigo Thodé (MFK). As of now, a definitive decision is yet to be reached regarding the scheduling of the discussion.