WILLEMSTAD - Recently, a public discussion arose regarding the decision of the President of Parliament, Mr. Fergino Brownbill (MFK), to postpone a public parliamentary meeting requested by the opposition parties PAR, PNP, and MAN/PIN. These parties, along with several experts, commentators, former politicians, and former ministers, have sharply criticized the young President of Parliament for his decision.

In response, an examination was conducted to determine whether postponing meetings “until further notice” by the President of Parliament had occurred before, or if such action could be considered “undemocratic.” This was found not to be the case. The postponement of meetings by or on behalf of the President of Parliament has been a long-standing practice in Curaçao’s parliamentary procedures and is therefore nothing new. A review of the period 2017–2020, that is, before the current MFK-led governments of the past four years, shows that at least 34 meetings were postponed “until further notice” by or on behalf of the then Presidents of Parliament.

In none of those 34 instances did such a decision by former Presidents of Parliament lead to public controversy, as has recently occurred following the current President’s decision to postpone the meeting in connection with the conflict between the former Minister of Finance and the Receiver of Taxes. In other words, it has long been common practice for Presidents of Parliament to postpone — or even cancel — a meeting requested by members when there is good reason to do so, without causing any public uproar. Never before has such a decision by previous Presidents of Parliament been labeled “undemocratic,” nor have opposition parties complained about it.

Even now, there is no reason for concern, as the government has assured the Chair that it will appear before Parliament, accompanied by the Receiver of Taxes, so that the members—including the opposition parties who requested the meeting—will have the opportunity to ask the government and the Receiver the necessary questions.

The government remains committed to transparency and political accountability toward Parliament, as prescribed by the Constitution and in accordance with Curaçao’s constitutional practice.

Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas therefore concludes that the opposition’s complaint regarding the Chair’s postponement of the parliamentary meeting of October 17, with the government and the Receiver, was unfounded.