WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is facing growing concerns over parliamentary accountability as the number of unanswered written questions submitted by Members of Parliament continues to rise sharply. By the end of September 2026, ministers had failed to respond to 147 parliamentary questions and requests, an increase of 51 compared to just three months earlier.
The figures come from an official overview submitted by President of Curaçao Parliament Fergino Brownbill to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas. The document reveals that the backlog has increased by more than 53 percent since June, raising questions about the government's ability and willingness to provide Parliament with the information necessary to exercise its oversight responsibilities.
At the end of March, 73 parliamentary questions and requests remained unanswered. That number increased to 96 by the end of June before reaching 147 at the end of September.
This means the backlog has more than doubled in just six months, despite repeated concerns about delays in responding to parliamentary inquiries.
The unanswered questions cover a wide range of government responsibilities, including public finances, healthcare, public safety, infrastructure, and the functioning of government institutions.
Prime Minister's Ministry Has Largest Backlog
The Ministry of General Affairs, which falls under the responsibility of Prime Minister Pisas, accounts for the largest number of outstanding questions, with 32 unanswered requests.
The Ministry of Justice follows with 23.
The Ministries of Health, Environment and Nature and Finance each have 19 unanswered questions, while the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare has 18.
The Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning has 14 outstanding requests.
Meanwhile, the Ministries of Governance, Planning and Public Services and Education, Science, Culture and Sports each have eight unanswered questions.
The Ministry of Economic Development has the smallest backlog, with six outstanding requests.
Together, the Ministries of General Affairs and Justice account for 55 unanswered questions, representing more than one-third of the total backlog.
The distribution indicates that the delays are not confined to one government department but affect nearly every major area of public administration.
Some Questions Have Remained Unanswered for More Than a Year
Particularly concerning is the age of several outstanding parliamentary inquiries.
According to the overview, some questions date back to 2025 and have remained unanswered for more than 400 days.
These include requests for information about the management of public funds, the organization of government services, the implementation of public policies, healthcare, and public safety.
The delays mean that some Members of Parliament have been waiting more than a year for information needed to scrutinize government decisions and hold ministers accountable.
Parliamentary questions are one of the principal instruments available to elected representatives to examine government policies, investigate administrative decisions, and demand explanations about the use of public resources.
When ministers fail to provide timely responses, Parliament's ability to perform these functions can be significantly weakened.
The growing backlog therefore raises broader concerns about transparency and the effectiveness of democratic oversight.
Brownbill Reminds Government of Its Obligations
In his correspondence to Prime Minister Pisas, Parliament President Brownbill refers to the protocol governing the individual right of Members of Parliament to submit questions.
The protocol was established between Parliament and the government on August 20, 2013.
Under the agreement, ministers are required to answer written parliamentary questions within the applicable deadline.
If a minister cannot provide a response on time, the minister must notify the President of Parliament in writing and explain the reasons for the delay.
The requirement is intended to ensure that parliamentary inquiries are handled transparently and that delays do not occur without explanation.
Brownbill has indicated that he intends to publish the overview of outstanding questions on the official website of Curaçao Parliament.
Before publication, ministers will be given two weeks to respond to the overview.
Growing Backlog Raises Questions About Government Transparency
The figures reveal a continuing deterioration in the government's responsiveness to parliamentary inquiries.
In August, concerns were already raised when it became known that 96 questions remained unanswered at the end of June.
Three months later, the number had increased to 147.
The increase suggests that new questions and requests are accumulating faster than ministries are resolving outstanding inquiries.
For opposition and coalition parliamentarians alike, timely access to government information is essential to carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
Without answers, Members of Parliament may be unable to determine whether government policies are being implemented as promised, whether public money is being spent appropriately, or whether ministers are adequately addressing problems affecting the population.
The situation also raises questions about whether ministries have sufficient administrative capacity and internal procedures to process parliamentary requests efficiently.
However, the overview does not establish the specific reasons for the delays or whether individual ministers have formally requested extensions in accordance with the 2013 protocol.
The latest figures place renewed pressure on the Pisas administration to explain the growing backlog and demonstrate how it intends to restore timely communication with Parliament.
With some questions already outstanding for more than a year, the issue is no longer limited to administrative delays. It has become a broader concern about the government's accountability to the elected representatives of the people of Curaçao.