WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government has distributed 4,000 free tickets to civil servants and private school teachers, granting them complimentary access to the opening night of the Hak’e Jump-In Festival. The move has triggered criticism, as it comes in the middle of the election campaign.
The Hak’e Jump-In Festival is a major Carnival event, featuring performances by renowned singers, bands, and DJs. Regular attendees are charged 75 guilders for the first night, but government employees and school staff were allowed to attend free of charge.
Union leaders Thaise Isidora-Lo-A-Njoe of the National Police Union (NAPB) and Raymond Margaritha of the General Union for Government and Other Personnel (ABVO) have raised concerns about the timing and funding of the initiative. Isidora-Lo-A-Njoe questioned why taxpayer money is being used for this purpose and why similar actions were not taken earlier.
Margaritha acknowledged that social benefits for government employees are not unusual but criticized the timing and the fact that the announcement was made through social media instead of official consultation channels.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about government spending and transparency, particularly during an election period.