WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party MAN is calling on the Pisas government to introduce direct income compensation for households struggling with the simultaneous increase in fuel, water and electricity prices.
The proposal follows the latest adjustments in energy prices, which are increasing several essential household expenses within a matter of days.
Gasoline increased by XCG 0.13 on Tuesday to XCG 2.73 per liter, while diesel recorded a much sharper increase of XCG 0.45, bringing the price to XCG 2.82 per liter.
As of October 1, households will also face higher electricity and water rates. For residential customers using up to nine cubic meters of water, the rate will increase by XCG 0.71 per cubic meter.
MAN says the cumulative effect of the increases is putting household purchasing power under growing pressure.
According to the opposition party, the impact is particularly severe for lower-income families and people who depend exclusively on the AOV old-age pension or social assistance. However, MAN argues that the problem is no longer confined to the lowest-income groups, saying Curaçao’s middle class is also increasingly struggling with the rising cost of living.
The party wants the government to establish an income threshold below which households would qualify for financial compensation.
MAN acknowledges that some of the recent increases are linked to developments on international markets and therefore cannot be controlled directly by Curaçao.
However, the party argues that this does not relieve the government of its responsibility to mitigate the impact on residents.
The opposition is therefore calling on the Pisas Cabinet to present Parliament with a comprehensive purchasing-power support package.
MAN has not yet indicated how much its proposed income compensation would cost or where the eligibility threshold should be set.
The party says those details should form part of a government plan that takes into account the combined effect of higher fuel, utility and other essential living expenses rather than treating each price increase separately.