WILLEMSTAD - Opposition party MAN-PIN has issued a sharply worded letter to the President of Parliament calling for urgent answers from Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas on what it describes as “serious and escalating security risks” facing Curaçao. The letter, signed by MPs Suzy Camelia-Römer and Giselle Mc William, expresses concern over both regional geopolitical instability and local vulnerabilities.
According to MAN-PIN, Curaçao is now confronted with multiple forms of risk — from the growing U.S. military presence near Venezuela and the possibility of armed conflict, to domestic threats such as island-wide blackouts, extreme weather, flooding in Saliña and Bandabou, cyberattacks on the Tax Office and local banks, and widespread internet outages. “These are risks we can observe not only here in Curaçao, but in countries around the world,” the MPs wrote.
Government Failed to Answer Earlier Questions
MAN-PIN reminds the Prime Minister that it submitted formal questions on August 18 regarding national security, but received no response — a clear violation, they note, of the 2013 protocol requiring government to reply within two months. “Not only are we beyond the deadline, but no answer has been received at all,” the party stated.
Given the lack of response, MAN-PIN has now submitted a new set of parliamentary questions under Article 96 of the Rules of Order, demanding detailed information on the government’s preparedness.
MAN-PIN Demands Comprehensive Risk Assessment and Emergency Planning
The party is asking the Prime Minister whether Curaçao has an updated national risk inventory, and if so, to provide Parliament with a copy. If not, the MPs want to know when such a list will be completed.
Key questions include:
Whether emergency services — police, fire department, VKC, GGD, CMC, airport and port authorities — receive coordinated joint training.
Whether schools and workplaces are being properly informed about emergency scenarios.
Whether the government acknowledges that, during a major disaster, its own services may become incapacitated and residents may need to survive on their own “for some time.”
Whether the government will develop a hurricane emergency kit, to help families cope with extended periods without water, electricity or digital payment systems.
Concerns About Hybrid Threats
MAN-PIN also raised alarms about modern security challenges, pointing to the growing global use of hybrid attacks — a mix of cyberattacks, sabotage and disinformation.
The MPs ask what steps the government has taken to prepare Curaçao for such threats, including manipulation on social media intended to create division and weaken community resilience.
Infrastructure Vulnerability and Kingdom Coordination
The letter also calls for:
An analysis of the island’s most vulnerable neighborhoods and infrastructure.
A national emergency plan that outlines short-, medium- and long-term response strategies.
A public awareness campaign encouraging residents to prepare for periods without government assistance after a natural disaster, cyberattack or sabotage.
Clarification on whether any agreements have been made with Kingdom partners to respond jointly to a major disaster.
Call for Transparency
MAN-PIN stresses that Parliament — and the public — deserve clear answers at a time of increased geopolitical tension, particularly given Curaçao’s proximity to Venezuela and its strategic importance within the Kingdom.
“The security and resilience of our country cannot depend on unanswered letters,” the MPs warned.
The opposition expects the Prime Minister to address the full list of questions promptly and transparently.
