WILLEMSTAD – Opposition party MAN has strongly criticized a decision by Curaçao's Council of Ministers to grant a thirteenth-month payment to government ministers and Members of Parliament, describing the additional compensation as both illegal and morally unacceptable at a time when a significant portion of the population is struggling with poverty.
The parliamentary faction argues that the government has exceeded its legal authority by approving an additional payment that is not provided for under the legislation governing parliamentary compensation.
According to MAN, the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament are established by law, and the existing legal framework does not include provisions for a thirteenth-month payment or an additional annual bonus.
The party maintains that a decision by the Council of Ministers cannot simply override legislation approved by Parliament.
MAN therefore considers the decision unlawful and is demanding that the government withdraw it.
The dispute raises questions about the legal basis for granting additional compensation to political officeholders and whether such payments can be introduced through an executive decision without first amending the relevant legislation.
The party's interpretation of the law has not been established by a court ruling.
Beyond its legal objections, MAN has also condemned the decision on social and ethical grounds.
The faction points to the economic circumstances facing many Curaçao households, arguing that additional payments to ministers and parliamentarians are difficult to justify when more than 40 percent of the population reportedly lives below the poverty line.
According to the opposition party, granting politicians additional financial benefits under these circumstances sends the wrong message to residents who are struggling to cover basic living expenses.
MAN believes that the government's priorities should be directed toward addressing pressing social needs rather than increasing the compensation of elected officials and government ministers.
The faction is therefore calling on the government not only to reverse the decision but also to redirect the money earmarked for the additional payments to Curaçao's healthcare sector.
The party argues that the funds would be better used to support healthcare services, which continue to face financial and operational challenges.
The controversy adds another dimension to the ongoing political debate over government spending, public accountability and the use of public resources.
The information released by MAN does not specify the total amount involved in the proposed payments or whether any funds have already been disbursed.
It also remains unclear what legal justification the Council of Ministers has provided for the decision.
MAN is insisting that the government withdraw the measure and prioritize public services over additional compensation for political officeholders.
The matter is expected to generate further discussion about the limits of executive authority and the standards that should apply when decisions involving the remuneration of ministers and parliamentarians are made.