WILLEMSTAD – Governor Mauritsz de Kort has informed Curaçao's Council of Ministers that he will not sign the proposed national decree authorizing year-end bonuses for government ministers and members of Curaçao Parliament. The decision represents a significant setback for the Pisas administration's controversial plan to award political officeholders an additional month's salary.
The development was reported on Thursday, November 5, by local news outlet Curaçao.nu, which stated that the Governor had communicated his position directly to the Council of Ministers.
The proposed payment, commonly referred to as a thirteenth-month bonus, would provide ministers and parliamentarians with an additional amount equivalent to one month's salary on top of their regular annual compensation.
The Governor's reported refusal means that the government cannot proceed with the proposed payment through the decree as presented. If the administration intends to continue pursuing the bonuses, it will have to address the legal requirements governing the remuneration of political officeholders.
Financial Supervisor Previously Warned About Legal Requirements
The Governor's reported decision follows concerns raised by the Board of Financial Supervision (Cft), which previously warned that the proposed payments require a proper legal foundation.
In an assessment reported by Antilliaans Dagblad on October 29, the Cft indicated that the existing national ordinances governing the remuneration of ministers and parliamentarians do not provide for the proposed year-end bonuses.
The financial supervisor emphasized that additional compensation must be supported by appropriate legislation.
It also stressed that the associated expenditures must be incorporated into the government's budget transparently and lawfully, allowing Curaçao Parliament to exercise its constitutional authority over public spending.
The Cft disclosed that it had learned about the government's intentions through media reports and had not been consulted about the proposal.
The financial supervisor also indicated that it did not possess the complete details of the planned payments.
These concerns raised questions about whether the Council of Ministers could authorize the bonuses without first securing the necessary legislative changes.
Governor Has Constitutional Responsibilities
As Governor of Curaçao, De Kort represents the King and serves as the formal head of the country's government.
His responsibilities include signing national ordinances and national decrees.
According to the Governor's official website, he also has responsibilities relating to compliance with Kingdom legislation, legal certainty, and the principles of good governance.
The Governor's constitutional position therefore extends beyond ceremonial duties, although ministers remain politically responsible for government decisions.
The reported refusal to sign the bonus decree should not automatically be interpreted as a judicial determination that the proposal is unlawful. No court ruling establishing the legality of the proposed payments has been identified in connection with this development.
Nevertheless, the decision creates a substantial obstacle to implementing the bonuses through the proposed executive measure.
Activist Had Urged Governor to Block Payments
The development follows a formal complaint submitted by Curaçao activist Elvis de Andrade, who called on Governor De Kort to refuse to sign the decree.
De Andrade argued that granting an additional month's salary to ministers and parliamentarians would amount to an unacceptable use of public funds.
He also questioned whether the proposed payments had a sufficient legal basis.
His complaint was reported earlier this week, amid growing public and political criticism of the government's intentions.
De Andrade went further by accusing the government of self-enrichment and alleging possible criminal wrongdoing.
Those allegations remain his personal claims and have not been established by a court.
Although the Governor's reported decision is consistent with the action requested by De Andrade, there is no confirmation that the complaint directly influenced De Kort's position.
Opposition Parties Questioned Government's Priorities
The proposed bonuses have also generated strong criticism from opposition parties.
MAN previously condemned the plan, arguing that additional compensation for ministers and parliamentarians was not provided for under the existing remuneration legislation.
The party also questioned the government's priorities at a time when many households face financial difficulties.
MAN called for the funds intended for political bonuses to be redirected toward the healthcare sector.
PAR parliamentarian Shaheen Elhage similarly criticized the proposal, arguing that government officials should not receive additional rewards merely for carrying out the responsibilities for which they are already paid.
Elhage suggested that available public funds could instead be used to reduce the financial burden on households by helping offset increases in electricity, water, gasoline, and diesel prices.
He also questioned why the proposed additional compensation would benefit public-sector employees and political officeholders while private-sector workers would not receive comparable relief.
The criticism has placed the government's bonus proposal at the center of a broader debate about public spending, political remuneration, and the rising cost of living in Curaçao.
Government Must Decide Whether to Pursue Legislative Changes
With the Governor reportedly refusing to sign the decree, the Pisas administration faces a decision about whether to abandon the proposed bonuses for political officeholders or pursue an alternative legal route.
According to Curaçao.nu, proceeding with the payments would require changes to the relevant legislation, which would need the approval of Curaçao Parliament.
Such a process would place the proposed additional compensation before lawmakers for formal consideration.
It would also require the government to explain the financial implications and legal justification for the payments.
The reported refusal concerns the proposed bonuses for ministers and parliamentarians. It does not, by itself, establish that separate year-end compensation arrangements for civil servants have been rejected.
As of Thursday, November 5, no separate public statement from the Governor explaining his decision in detail had been identified.
The government has also not yet publicly clarified whether it intends to withdraw the proposal or pursue the legislative changes necessary to authorize the additional payments.
For now, the Governor's reported position marks a major development in a controversy that has generated legal questions, political opposition, and public criticism over the use of government funds to provide additional compensation to Curaçao's political leadership.