Party denounces “systematic obstruction” of Parliament’s supervisory role
WILLEMSTAD - The Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP) has issued a strongly worded letter to Parliament President Charetti Brownbill expressing “deep and urgent concern” over the abrupt cancellation of today’s scheduled public meeting on the ongoing crisis surrounding the Landsontvanger, Curaçao’s national tax collector.
According to the PNP, the cancellation — made without sufficient justification or authorization from the initiators — represents “an alarming development that strikes at the very essence of parliamentary democracy.” The meeting was meant to clarify serious issues involving the Landsontvanger’s operations and to hold the Government accountable for alleged misconduct.
In the letter, the PNP emphasizes that this decision appears to be a deliberate attempt to frustrate Parliament’s constitutional oversight duties and hinder efforts to uncover the truth. The party called the move “not a mere procedural matter, but a direct act of obstruction.”
The letter highlights several troubling developments that deepen the party’s concern:
Serious allegations have surfaced regarding political interference, illegal instructions, and financial mismanagement within the Landsontvanger’s office.
The former minister responsible reportedly assumed a parliamentary seat shortly after publicly stating that he would not step down, a move the PNP says gives “the impression of an escape route from ministerial accountability.”
The Landsontvanger himself has publicly requested to be released from his legal obligation of secrecy (Article 50 of the ALL) so that he can fully inform Parliament about alleged political pressures on his department. The now-cancelled meeting was supposed to provide a formal platform to discuss that request.
The PNP warns that these incidents collectively paint a disturbing picture of a government undermining Parliament’s supervisory powers, supported by the majority party. The faction describes this as “a direct attack on transparency, good governance, and the checks and balances that define the rule of law.”
“The people of Curaçao have the right to know the truth,” the letter states, “and it is our duty as their representatives to ensure that light is shed on these matters.”
The PNP has therefore made a formal and urgent appeal to Parliament President Brownbill to:
Reschedule the cancelled public meeting with the highest possible priority.
Urge the Government to immediately grant the Landsontvanger’s request for release from confidentiality, allowing him to testify freely before Parliament.
Guarantee Parliament’s constitutional right and duty to oversee Government actions, and to condemn any attempts to obstruct that role.
The letter concludes with a call for vigilance: “Parliament’s doors cannot remain closed at the very moment when the truth is ready to come to light. We trust in your efforts to safeguard the integrity and authority of Parliament.”
The communication was signed by the PNP faction leader and Member of Parliament, and copied to both the Council of Ministers and the Governor of Curaçao.
