WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party MAN is calling on the Curaçao government to urgently implement a comprehensive policy for senior citizens, as the island marks the International Day of Older Persons on October 1.
According to recent figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Curaçao had more than 40,000 residents aged 60 and older as of January 1, 2026. This group represents nearly 26 percent of the island’s total population.
MAN says the figures demonstrate the growing importance of policies specifically addressing the needs and circumstances of an aging population.
The party points out that a comprehensive senior citizens policy was already completed in November 2019 under then-MAN minister Hensley Koeiman, following consultations with organizations and stakeholders in the sector. According to the opposition party, however, the policy has still not been implemented nearly seven years later.
MAN is therefore calling on the government to move quickly and translate the existing plans into concrete measures.
Among its priorities is the structural indexation of the General Old Age Pension (AOV). The party argues that regular adjustments are necessary to protect the purchasing power of retirees as the cost of living increases.
MAN is also calling for the establishment of a central telephone number specifically for senior citizens. The proposal was previously approved by the Curaçao Parliament, but according to the party, it has yet to be put into practice.
Such a service would provide seniors with a single point of contact where they can obtain information and assistance rather than having to approach different government agencies and organizations separately.
The opposition party is now calling on the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) to present the government’s senior citizens policy in the short term and provide clarity on how and when the proposed measures will be implemented.
For MAN, the International Day of Older Persons should not only serve as a moment to recognize the contribution of senior citizens to Curaçao society, but also as a reminder that their growing share of the population requires long-term government planning.
With approximately one in four Curaçao residents now aged 60 or older, the party says policies concerning income security, access to services and support for seniors are becoming increasingly important for the island.