WILLEMSTAD - On Friday, all factions in the Parliament of Curaçao submitted a motion aimed at bringing more transparency to the expenses incurred by parliamentarians with the so-called 'pocket money'. The motion was presented during the public meeting, with the aim of clearly and strictly justifying future travel expenses.
The motion emphasizes that the Parliament has reserved an amount of 600,000 guilders for travel expenses for the year 2025. According to article 13 of the Central Ordinance "Financial Provisions States," parliamentarians receive compensation for each official trip abroad. These allowances are intended to cover the costs related to these trips.
The motion further indicates that it is a well-known problem that some parliamentarians sometimes use these compensations for personal purposes, which is considered unethical and non-transparent.
From now on, parliamentarians must submit a detailed report and financial statement after each trip paid for by the Parliament. This accountability is intended to help ensure the integrity of the use of public funds.
The clerk manages the funds in accordance with the new rules, and parliamentarians are obliged to publicly justify their expenses. With this, the Parliament aims to set an example to the community on how public funds should be used in a transparent, honest, accountable, and controlled manner.
The motion has been signed by the factions of KEM, PAR, MAN, TPK, PNP, MFK, and independent member Ms. Zita Jesus-Leito.