WILLEMSTAD – On June 4 and 5, the 24th statutory congress of the Organización Demócrata Cristiana de América (ODCA) took place in Bogotá, Colombia, where Mr. Dudley Lucia, president of the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP), was elected Vice President in charge of Interinstitutional Affairs. Mr. Lucia participated in the congress alongside PNP Secretary Renny Oehlers, representing Curaçao.
ODCA is an international organization founded on April 23, 1947, and unites representatives of Christian Democratic political parties from North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The organization promotes Christian Democratic ideology and has played a formative role in the development of many prominent PNP leaders, including the late Juancho Evertsz, Maria Liberia-Peters, and Rufo Mac William.
The current PNP leader, Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia, has also participated in multiple ODCA events. After several years of inactivity within the organization, current party president Dudley Lucia took the initiative to reactivate PNP’s involvement. From the Dutch Caribbean, Caryl ‘Hans’ Els from Bonaire’s UPB and Aruba’s Mike Eman have also been active in ODCA. However, since Mike Eman recently assumed the role of Prime Minister of Aruba, he was replaced by AVP parliamentary faction leader Clifford Heyliger.
During the congress, where a new board was elected, Lucia was chosen as ODCA’s Vice President for Interinstitutional Affairs. The event featured high-profile guest speakers from Latin America and Europe who discussed key global political issues, including the impact of Donald Trump’s policies, regional unity strategies, the importance of "soft power," and the future of international democracy promotion and the role of political party networks.
Lucia strongly believes that renewed PNP participation in ODCA activities will be of great value, especially in shaping and training the party’s younger and newly active politicians. He emphasized that the PNP’s board will work to ensure that the youth benefit from training programs offered through ODCA. The organization includes a youth branch, Juventud Demócrata Cristiana de América (JUDCA), and a women’s branch, Mujeres Demócrata Cristiana de América (MUDCA).
All congress sessions were held in the Senate chambers of Colombia in Bogotá. The current Senate President, Dr. Efraín Cepeda Sarabia, is a staunch Christian Democrat.
In a candid conversation, Lucia shared insights into the current tense political climate in Colombia, particularly between President Gustavo Petro and the Senate. The Senate has not supported any of Petro’s key legislative initiatives, prompting him to call for a public referendum to gauge citizens’ opinions on several pressing issues. Colombia is expected to hold Senate elections next March and presidential elections in May 2026.
Against this increasingly hostile political backdrop—where campaigning has already begun—a tragic attack recently occurred against a young 39-year-old senator. The PNP has since sent a formal letter condemning the violence and expressing solidarity with the victim and their family.
