Opposition Party PAR Raises Concerns Over Cabinet's Handling of ENNIA Issue
WILLEMSTAD - The opposition party PAR, in a recent press release, expressed its concern and shared its response to the Pisas Cabinet's letter addressed to the Curaçao Parliament. In the letter, the Cabinet requests assistance from the Parliament in resolving the pressing challenges facing the country.
PAR's response comes after the government's decision to decline funding from the Netherlands, which was intended to guarantee the full pension payments for 30,000 ENNIA policyholders and save the troubled insurance company. The party notes that the government has not been able to provide a clear solution to the problem, leaving the community in uncertainty.
The opposition party expressed its indignation and referred to the Cabinet's previous refusal to engage with the Parliament and its members on the ENNIA issue. Prime Minister Pisas, at the time, stated that there was a "media silence" regarding the matter, causing the government to refuse to attend Parliament meetings. The PAR Faction, alongside other factions, had previously approached the President of Parliament requesting a Public Meeting to address the ENNIA issue, receive government information, debate, and contribute to a solution. However, this request was dismissed by the Pisas Cabinet.
According to PAR, the government's approach to handling the ENNIA issue raises questions about its decision to decline Dutch funding and its lack of a concrete plan to address the situation. The party also noted that the government's actions could result in Curaçao paying 79 million guilders to the Netherlands in 2024 for the Covid loan, a figure that surpasses the combined cost of both the Covid and ENNIA loans. This situation has left the community without any assurance that full pension payments will be made, and ENNIA will be saved.
Despite the "media silence" on the matter, the PAR faction believes that it is crucial for the government to show respect for the people's representatives and provide clear explanations and transparency regarding the challenging position it has placed Curaçao and the ENNIA policyholders in. The party seeks a collaborative effort to address the pressing issues and find a resolution.