WILLEMSTAD – PAR parliamentary leader Quincy Girigorie is questioning whether Curaçao’s growing economy and booming tourism industry are translating into better living conditions for the wider population, arguing that many households continue to struggle with debt, rising prices and housing costs.
“Development, yes, but for whom?” Girigorie asked in a statement issued by the PAR parliamentary faction on October 7.
Girigorie said economic development should be measured not only by tourism growth or government finances but also by whether residents can afford their basic expenses and benefit from the island’s prosperity.
PAR claims that 58 percent of tourism revenue leaves the local economy, while 60 percent of households are in debt and 31 percent of residents live on minimum wage. The statement also points to rising prices and increasingly expensive housing.
The figures were presented by PAR in its statement and were not accompanied by the underlying reports or methodology for all of the percentages.
Girigorie also referred to warnings that many Curaçao households experience chronic debt problems and that a substantial part of the population lives below the poverty line. At the same time, he pointed to higher costs for gasoline, diesel, water and electricity as additional pressure on household finances.
The PAR leader linked those economic pressures to broader concerns about social unrest and crime. He argued that increases in crime cannot be viewed exclusively as a law-enforcement issue and that economic and social conditions must also be addressed.
Girigorie therefore called not only on Justice Minister Shalten Hato but also on ministers responsible for economic development, social affairs and finance to recognize what PAR describes as growing dissatisfaction within the community.
The opposition party also raised concerns about access to land and coastal areas, claiming that increasingly expensive property and foreign ownership are affecting residents’ ability to benefit from Curaçao’s development.
For PAR, the central question is whether the benefits of Curaçao’s economic and tourism growth are being distributed broadly enough among the people who live on the island.
Girigorie called for government intervention, arguing that economic growth alone should not be regarded as healthy development if a significant part of the population continues to face financial insecurity.