The situation facing our elderly and retired citizens in Curaçao is deeply troubling and unacceptable. Too much is going wrong, yet hardly anyone seems willing to speak up.
The numbers speak for themselves. Older people and retirees now make up one of the largest groups within Curaçao society. Add those over the age of 50, and together they represent a substantial part of our population. Yet this is precisely the group that increasingly struggles to make ends meet. They have become one of the most neglected groups in our country.
The Cost of Living Is Crushing
Day after day, groceries and other basic necessities become more expensive. And this cannot simply be blamed on oil prices.
Businesses in Curaçao appear to have considerable freedom when setting their prices, while consumers often feel they have little protection against rising costs. The balance seems to consistently favor businesses rather than those struggling to afford everyday necessities.
For elderly residents, this can be particularly difficult. Many live alone because their children have moved to the Netherlands for work or education. They are therefore often left to manage their daily expenses and challenges largely on their own.
Abandoned by Government and Unions
The harsh reality is that there is no strong organization, union or government institution visibly standing up for Curaçao’s pensioners and demanding better living conditions for them.
Healthcare expenses, the consequences of aging, home maintenance, recreation and medication all place additional pressure on people whose incomes are often limited.
It sometimes seems as though our elderly have simply been left to fend for themselves.
Fear and Fanaticism Also Rule Here
The culture we see today is partly an inheritance from our past. People are reluctant to organize themselves and make their voices heard. There is little protest and little resistance.
Politics in Curaçao has also become too heavily influenced by fanaticism and populism instead of common sense and the genuine needs of the population.
A prisoner can invoke fundamental human rights and demand humane treatment. Yet when elderly people struggle to live with dignity, their rights and needs seem to receive far less attention.
Worked for Decades, Now Pushed Aside
After spending decades contributing to Curaçao’s prosperity, elderly people and pensioners are now expected to watch from the sidelines.
They are forced to accept what is decided for them and hope that perhaps a few crumbs of growing prosperity will eventually reach them.
Even when the economy improves and government finances become stronger, many elderly and retired residents do not feel that improvement in their daily lives.
That cannot be the society we want to build.
Our community has a moral responsibility toward the generation that helped build this country. Curaçao’s most important transformation must therefore also be a transformation in mentality.
We need a society that puts people at the center of development and gives them the dignity, recognition and appreciation they deserve.
Our elderly should not become Curaçao’s forgotten generation.
They helped build the Curaçao we have today. The least we can do is ensure that they can spend their later years with dignity, security and respect.
Erwin Raphaëla
Seasoned journalist and columnist