WILLEMSTAD - Member of Parliament Gwendell Mercelina Jr. has expressed his dissatisfaction with the rejection of a request for a question hour in the Curaçao Parliament regarding the death of a Colombian woman while under police supervision. Mercelina criticized the Speaker of Parliament's decision to deny the request, citing that the matter falls under "judicial investigation."
The incident involved the death of Carbonell Alvarado on October 2 at Hato Airport. According to a police press release issued on October 5, the cause of death was natural, and no criminal offense occurred. However, Mercelina's request to ask questions was rejected due to an ongoing investigation, which he finds perplexing since there is no longer a criminal inquiry in progress.
Mercelina highlights the international attention on human rights in Curaçao and underscores the necessity for transparency and accountability, particularly given the potential negative impact of such incidents on the island's international reputation.