WILLEMSTAD – The Ombudsman of Curaçao has once again urged the government to take action on poverty, highlighting that key recommendations made years ago remain unanswered.
In a recent letter to the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare, the Ombudsman pointed out that proposals submitted in December 2022—following a Kingdom-wide conference on poverty—have yet to receive any official response.
The concerns date back even further. In 2017, the Ombudsman already raised alarms about the lack of policy and legislation for debt assistance on the island. Despite repeated warnings and detailed recommendations, concrete action has not followed.
The 2022 conference, held at the University of Curaçao and involving ombudsman institutions from across the Kingdom, produced several practical proposals aimed at addressing poverty affecting a significant portion of the population.
These included the introduction of structured debt relief programs, improvements to the social safety net, better access to education—including for children with learning challenges—and enhanced care for the elderly. The recommendations also emphasized the importance of multilingual skills to improve access to the labor market.
According to the Ombudsman, the lack of response is particularly concerning given the urgency of the issue. The institution is now formally requesting clarity on what steps, if any, the government intends to take.
The renewed call places the issue of poverty back at the center of political attention, raising questions about policy follow-through and the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing social challenges.