WILLEMSTAD – MFK Member of Parliament Ishahier Monte is calling on the government to provide clarity about how Curaçao's traditional music, food, customs and other forms of intangible cultural heritage are being documented and protected for future generations.
In formal parliamentary questions submitted under Article 96 of the Rules of Order, Monte has asked Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Sithree van Heydoorn whether Curaçao has established a national inventory of its intangible cultural heritage and what measures are being taken to preserve traditions that could eventually disappear.
The parliamentarian raised the issue following the recent celebrations of Culture Week and Curaçao Country Day, which highlighted the island's cultural diversity and longstanding traditions.
According to Monte, cultural heritage should not receive attention only during annual celebrations. Instead, he believes preserving traditions must become a continuous responsibility involving the government, communities and younger generations.
He pointed to traditional Curaçao dishes such as yambo and tutu, musical styles including tambú, tumba, mazurka and Antillean salsa, and customs such as tying traditional headscarves.
Monte also mentioned the preparation of local sweets, traditional children's games and cultural practices associated with funerals.
The parliamentarian questioned whether these customs are being systematically recorded and whether sufficient efforts are being made to pass the knowledge behind them to younger generations.
He also referred to major cultural events, including the Tumba Festival, Carnival Parade and Seú Harvest Parade, asking how such traditions fit within the country's broader cultural heritage protection framework.
Monte emphasized that cultural heritage extends beyond monuments and historical buildings. It also includes the knowledge, skills, expressions and customs that communities inherit and transmit across generations.
Questions About National Cultural Heritage Inventory
A central concern raised by Monte is whether Curaçao has an official national inventory of intangible cultural heritage.
According to information cited by the parliamentarian, UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has applied to Curaçao since July 29, 2016.
The convention establishes an international framework for identifying, documenting and safeguarding cultural traditions and practices.
Monte also referred to a government decree dated May 2, 2023, establishing Curaçao's Intangible Cultural Heritage Commission.
The commission was assigned responsibilities that include identifying and documenting cultural traditions, promoting their protection and developing a national inventory.
Another responsibility is to establish a separate list of traditions considered vulnerable or at risk of disappearing and therefore requiring urgent protection.
Monte wants the minister to confirm whether these inventories have been completed.
If a national inventory already exists, he is requesting that it be made available to Curaçao Parliament so lawmakers can examine which traditions and cultural practices have been officially registered.
The parliamentarian is also seeking information about the government's policies and programs for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.
His questions are intended to establish whether existing commitments have resulted in concrete measures to protect traditions and ensure that the public can access information about them.
Cultural Preservation Requires Continuous Attention
Monte argues that every tradition represents part of Curaçao's collective identity and carries knowledge inherited from earlier generations.
He believes that documenting these practices is essential, particularly as social and technological developments change the way younger generations experience and participate in traditional culture.
The parliamentarian also sees technology as a potential tool for preservation, allowing cultural practices, stories and knowledge to be recorded and made accessible digitally.
Monte's parliamentary intervention places renewed attention on the government's responsibilities under international cultural heritage commitments and the work of the commission established in 2023.
The minister's responses are expected to clarify whether Curaçao has developed the inventories and protection measures needed to safeguard its intangible cultural heritage for future generations.