MAN-PIN Unveils Comprehensive Plan to Address Extraordinary Price Increases

WILLEMSTAD – Today, the coalition MAN-PIN announced its detailed strategy aimed at tackling the rising cost of living in Curaçao and building a resilient, diversified economy for the island. The plan emphasizes a multifaceted approach, combining responsible governance, strategic investments, and community empowerment. 

The MAN-PIN parties recognize the crucial role of the government in regulating markets and ensuring that Curaçao becomes a livable country. This includes implementing effective controls to prevent unjust price hikes and, where necessary, taking measures to regulate the prices of essential goods such as food, water, electricity, housing rent, medicine, public transportation fares, and fuel. 

During its first 100 days in office, MAN-PIN plans to implement strict controls on maximum prices for fruits and vegetables, introduce protections for local fisheries, and stimulate local chicken and goat meat production. Additionally, every household with an income below the poverty line will have access to government-subsidized credit facilities to purchase food and essential items in stores and supermarkets participating in price agreement schemes with the government. For these households, actions will also be taken to regulate family rental prices and eliminate all components that make water, electricity, cooking gas, and gasoline expensive. To support this, MAN-PIN will also introduce a Wellness Lottery. 

Tax Reforms and Revenue Enhancements 

As part of its strategy, MAN-PIN aims to increase disposable income through the following measures: 

Transitioning from the current OB (sales tax) system to a revised ABB system. 

Reducing OZB (property tax) rates. 

Introducing a sugar tax. 

Raising the revenue threshold for exempting micro and small businesses from income tax. 

Creating fiscal incentives for productive investments up to 250,000 guilders. 

A New Visitor Entry Fee for tourists will be introduced to boost national revenue and help cover local expenses. While increased tourism positively impacts the economy, MAN-PIN acknowledges that it also contributes to rising market prices. 

Support for Small and Medium Enterprises 

MAN-PIN considers small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the economy, as deserving of fiscal support from the government. This is especially true for businesses involved in producing or selling food products. MAN-PIN will prioritize replacing imported fresh foods by supporting local agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, and food processing. 

This initiative aims to create jobs, save foreign currency, reduce healthcare costs, and promote sustainable practices. For the first time in Curaçao’s history, MAN-PIN will allocate funds to subsidize local food production, making agriculture, livestock farming, and fishing primary sectors contributing significantly to the economy. 

The same support will be extended to those producing derivative products from these sectors, such as bread flour, juices, soft drinks, sauces, condiments, cooking oils (processed products), tea, and wellness products.




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