WILLEMSTAD – MFK parliamentarian Maria Nita is calling on the government to introduce a structural system for food assistance, including a formal food allowance for low-income families.
Nita has submitted written questions to Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca, arguing that current support mechanisms are insufficient to ensure that vulnerable children have access to adequate and healthy nutrition.
According to Nita, existing child benefit payments do not cover the real cost of living, leaving many families struggling to meet basic needs. She pointed out that food assistance on the island currently depends largely on charitable organizations such as food banks, which rely on donations and volunteers and therefore cannot guarantee consistent coverage.
As a result, some families in need are not receiving support.
To address this gap, Nita is proposing the creation of a government-led food assistance program. Her plan includes introducing a food allowance that would complement existing child benefits, ensuring that low-income households have continuous access to essential food supplies.
Through her questions, the parliamentarian is also seeking greater transparency about current policy. She is asking how eligibility for child benefits is determined and whether there are plans to adjust payments in line with rising living costs.
In addition, Nita wants to know how the government evaluates the effectiveness of child benefits in preventing child malnutrition.
The issue also highlights what she describes as a major policy gap: the absence of an official, state-backed food assistance system. She is asking whether the government is working on a program that does not depend on charity and whether there are plans to introduce food vouchers or additional subsidies for families living below the poverty line.
Furthermore, Nita is requesting information on how the government collaborates with schools and healthcare institutions to identify and address cases of malnutrition, as well as whether there are reliable public data on the scale of the problem in Curaçao.
Her intervention is expected to fuel broader debate about poverty, social protection and the adequacy of existing support systems on the island.