WILLEMSTAD – The opposition party MAN is calling for an urgent public parliamentary meeting with Minister of Justice Shalten Hato to address growing concerns about crime in Curaçao, demanding answers about police staffing shortages, operational resources, and the government's strategy to combat robberies, murders, and gun violence.
In a statement, the party expressed serious concern about the security situation on the island, arguing that violent crime is undermining the population's sense of safety and freedom.
The two MPs for the MAN party Giselle Mc William (l) and Suzanne Camelia-Romer (r)
According to MAN, residents should be able to live, work, and move freely throughout Curaçao without constantly fearing that they could become victims of criminal activity.
The party pointed to robberies, thefts, homicides, and incidents involving firearms as examples of criminal activity affecting communities across the island.
MAN believes public safety cannot remain a subject of political promises and discussions without concrete results.
The party is demanding greater transparency from the government about the operational situation within the Curaçao Police Force (KPC), particularly regarding personnel shortages, the availability of patrol vehicles, equipment, budget allocations, and other resources necessary to combat crime effectively.
According to MAN, these issues must be addressed openly so that the public can understand whether the police have sufficient capacity to respond to criminal activity and maintain public order.
The opposition party also criticized what it considers an excessive emphasis on presenting crime statistics without adequately explaining the measures being implemented to improve public safety.
MAN argues that publishing figures alone does not provide residents with the information they need to assess the government's performance.
The party wants the Minister of Justice to explain which specific measures have been introduced, what results have been achieved, and what additional steps are planned to strengthen crime prevention and law enforcement.
To obtain these answers, the MAN parliamentary faction has formally requested that the President of the Curaçao Parliament urgently invite Minister Hato to a public parliamentary meeting.
The proposed meeting would focus on the government's crime-fighting policies, the challenges facing the police force, and the concrete actions being taken to improve security.
MAN emphasized that matters affecting the safety of the entire population should not be discussed exclusively behind closed doors.
According to the party, Parliament has a responsibility to demand transparency and hold the government accountable for its approach to public safety.
The statement comes amid public concern over robberies and other violent incidents, including crimes targeting businesses and residential neighborhoods.
MAN maintains that restoring confidence in public safety requires more than government assurances. It wants clear explanations of how available resources are being deployed and whether existing policies are producing measurable improvements.
The party stressed that security is not a privilege but a fundamental right of every resident of Curaçao.
It concluded by urging the government to move beyond promises and demonstrate concrete results in the fight against crime.
The parliamentary request places additional pressure on Minister Hato to publicly explain the government's security strategy and the operational challenges confronting the Curaçao Police Force.