WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Parliament President Fergino Brownbill has issued another press release defending his taxpayer-funded trip to the United States, where he attended several FIFA World Cup-related events. However, the latest statement has done little to quiet criticism, with many residents continuing to question whether the visit was necessary or provided tangible benefits for the island.
Brownbill came under heavy fire on social media after traveling to the United States during Curaçao's historic FIFA World Cup campaign. Critics argued that his presence was not essential and questioned whether public funds should have been used to finance the trip.
Brownbill with FIFA President Infantino
In the latest statement, Brownbill outlined a series of activities that took place during his visit. According to the release, he attended Curaçao's final group-stage match, where he sat alongside Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and representatives of Côte d'Ivoire, whose delegation also attended the match.
The Parliament President said it was an honor to represent the people of Curaçao during what he described as a historic moment for the island, expressing gratitude to the national football team for putting Curaçao on the world stage.
Beyond the match itself, Brownbill highlighted several meetings he attended. Together with Prime Minister Pisas, he participated in a diplomatic reception organized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where they met with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. According to the statement, discussions included congratulations on Curaçao's World Cup achievement and conversations about opportunities the island has to offer.
The release also notes that Prime Minister Pisas addressed more than 30 diplomats and business representatives during the reception.
In addition, Brownbill met with Curaçao's newly appointed representative in Washington, Jérôme Beeldsnijder, who briefed him on his work representing Curaçao's interests in the U.S. capital, current challenges, and opportunities for strengthening bilateral relations. Brownbill said he offered his support where needed.
Despite listing these activities, the statement does not directly address the central criticism raised by many members of the public—namely, why the President of Parliament needed to travel to the United States for the World Cup or what concrete results the trip produced for Curaçao.
The controversy has fueled a broader debate over the use of taxpayer money for official travel. Critics maintain that meetings held on the sidelines of sporting events do not, by themselves, justify the expense unless they lead to measurable outcomes or fall within the official responsibilities of the office.
So far, Parliament has not disclosed the total cost of Brownbill's trip or whether a formal report detailing the outcomes of the visit will be made public.