THE HAGUE – Internal tensions at the Cabinet of the Minister Plenipotentiary of Curaçao in The Hague (KGMC) have intensified following a dispute between ICT and facilities employee Jordan Pietersz and the leadership of the Curaçao House.
The conflict, which initially involved former Minister Plenipotentiary Carlson Manuel, has continued under the current management after Manuel stepped down earlier this year in consultation with Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas. The disagreement is now centered between Pietersz and acting director Martha Semil.
Reports of unrest within the Curaçao House have circulated for some time, with staff members previously expressing concerns about leadership practices. Pietersz, along with Carlton Manuel, brother of the former minister, had been outspoken in raising issues about internal governance. Both individuals had previously resided in the official residence of the Minister Plenipotentiary but left following earlier disputes.
The situation escalated further after Pietersz stated that he received only a partial salary payment for December 2025 and no salary payment at all for January 2026. He has since filed a formal complaint with the Public Prosecution Service in Curaçao, arguing that the withholding of his salary was carried out without a legally valid basis.
In correspondence shared by Pietersz, the acting director addressed his reintegration process and mediation efforts, stating that these should not be obstructed and that reintegration is a legal obligation that must continue. She further indicated that repeated allegations made by Pietersz, without formal confirmation from relevant authorities, were hindering the process.
According to the acting director, several issues raised by Pietersz do not directly relate to his role or responsibilities within the organization and have already been discussed publicly. She also noted that accusations presented without supporting documentation or verified evidence cannot be further processed.
Pietersz maintains that his complaint is not intended to draw premature conclusions or level accusations, but rather to enable what he describes as an independent and careful review of the situation. He argues that multiple interconnected actions have taken place within the Curaçao House, including the partial and full withholding of wages, questions surrounding the authority and mandate of occupational health services and HR officials, and the timing of these measures in relation to reports of alleged irregularities.
He has characterized the situation as retaliatory and previously referred to what he describes as a climate of fear within the organization.
In his written statements, Pietersz asserts that he has not been presented with any legally valid decision justifying the suspension or withholding of his salary, nor has he received a clear legal or factual explanation for the measures taken.
The matter is now in the hands of the authorities, as scrutiny over governance and internal management at the Curaçao House continues.