WILLEMSTAD - Member of Parliament for the MFK faction, Ramón Yung, has publicly expressed astonishment at recent remarks made by PAR leader Quincy Girigorie. In Girigorie's statements, he criticized the current government, claiming that Curaçao has been led into a dire situation due to the election of leaders without proper education or knowledge, while also suggesting that parliamentarians are unaware of their responsibilities.
In response, Yung sharply criticized Girigorie, suggesting that he might be suffering from dementia or hallucinations. Yung said it is inconceivable for Girigorie to blame the current government for the country’s issues, especially since the previous Rhuggenaath administration, which Girigorie was a part of, had driven the country into financial decline.
Yung also took the opportunity to remind Girigorie of the financial mismanagement during the Rhuggenaath Cabinet. He pointed out that after putting Curaçao’s finances in a state of crisis, Rhuggenaath told the public they would have to find strength in themselves and get used to eating basic meals like rice with eggs.
Yung raised several questions regarding Girigorie's claims. He asked why, if the Rhuggenaath Cabinet was truly a government of intellectuals, they failed to collect 4.2 billion florins in taxes. Additionally, he questioned why the 2021 budget presented by the previous government included a deficit of 220 million florins for 2022 if collecting taxes was supposed to be easy.
Yung also contrasted the current Pisas II Cabinet with the previous administration, highlighting that the current government managed to close both 2022 and 2023 with a positive financial balance and is expected to do the same in 2024. Furthermore, he noted that the Pisas II Cabinet has managed to pave many roads across the island, something that the Rhuggenaath administration failed to do due to lack of funds.
The MFK MP continued to outline various accomplishments of the Pisas II Cabinet, such as purchasing new ambulances, firefighting equipment, and providing financial support to Selikor for new equipment. He also pointed out the government's efforts in improving Curaçao Medical Center's (CMC) financial situation and investing millions in local sports facilities.
Yung didn't shy away from addressing Girigorie’s role as former Minister of Justice. He noted that Girigorie was involved in the unfinished "closed facility" at JJIC in Groot Kwartier, which was financed by the Netherlands but never completed. He also criticized Girigorie for the poor-quality food provided to inmates under his leadership, contrasting this with the Pisas II Cabinet’s renovations to the prison kitchen, allowing inmates to prepare their own meals with better quality.
In his final remarks, Yung acknowledged that there is more to recount regarding Girigorie’s time in government, but out of concern for what he suspects may be Girigorie's mental deterioration, Yung decided to limit his critique, in an effort not to place additional pressure on Girigorie's memory.