WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government is set to reintroduce the Makutu Básiko system for a period of eighteen months, following an agreement with the Association of Curaçao Importers (BVCA).
The measure, which regulates maximum prices for essential goods, will return on a temporary basis while authorities work on a more balanced and structural long-term policy. The new approach is intended to safeguard both the public interest and the position of businesses.
Makutu Básiko has a long and sometimes controversial history on the island. In the past, the system led to legal disputes, largely due to insufficient consultation with the private sector. In the current process, however, the government prioritized dialogue with stakeholders, ultimately leading to BVCA’s approval.
The proposal has already received a positive advisory opinion from the Department of Legislation and Legal Affairs and is now in its final phase before official publication and implementation.
The temporary reintroduction aims to keep basic products affordable for consumers amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures, while policymakers continue to develop a sustainable framework for price regulation in the future.