WILLEMSTAD - The opposition party MAN-PIN has urged the Pisas government to address skyrocketing food prices in Curaçao. The party argues that drastic measures are needed to make healthy food affordable for all households. Their proposal includes adjustments to price regulation, support for local agriculture, and reforms to the tax system. 

MAN-PIN advocates for an immediate adjustment of maximum prices on fruits and vegetables. This measure aims to lower prices while encouraging local farmers to increase production. The party also suggests introducing subsidies for small-scale agricultural initiatives and micro-businesses focusing on local products, such as jams, sauces, and fruit juices. 

The party further proposes lifting the moratorium on opening new neighborhood stores and minimarkets to enable young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses more easily. By promoting cooperatives between local shop owners and farmers, MAN-PIN aims to ensure that affordable, high-quality food is accessible to the population. 

Additionally, the opposition calls for investments in the fishing industry, small-scale livestock farming, and stricter measures to combat agricultural theft. To cut through bureaucratic red tape, MAN-PIN proposes streamlining licensing procedures and implementing a tax reform. The current Sales Tax (OB) system would be replaced with a General Consumption Tax (ABB), which they claim would lower consumer tax burdens and curb price increases. 

With these measures, the opposition hopes to ease the financial strain on Curaçaoan households and put an end to the “disproportionate” price hikes of recent years. “The government must take responsibility and ensure that healthy food is accessible to everyone,” stated MAN-PIN. However, the party did not present a cost analysis of their proposed plans.