WILLEMSTAD - It is neither ethically nor morally acceptable for Members of Parliament to raise their own holiday allowance from 6 to 8 percent, says Giselle Mc William of MAN-PIN. The proposal, which appeared on the agenda of the Central Committee yesterday as part of an amendment to the Holiday Regulation, received immediate pushback from multiple parties.

Mc William emphasized that the issue is a matter of principle and should be left for the next government to address. With many households facing severe financial hardship, she argued, Parliament should not be arranging its own “pastechi,” a local expression meaning special privileges for oneself. “There are people in this community who are struggling financially. In times like these, Parliament cannot prioritize increasing its own benefits,” she said.

The PNP also announced that it cannot support the proposed raise.

Ornelio “Kid” Martina of the Green Party added that the government currently lacks sufficient funds to pay out AOV pension benefits, making it unacceptable for MPs to consider boosting their own holiday allowance under such circumstances.

The debate highlights growing concerns about political self-enrichment at a time when many Curaçaoans are grappling with the rising cost of living and ongoing budgetary pressures.