WILLEMSTAD – MFK Member of Parliament Ishahier Monte is warning that Curaçao cannot afford to ignore thousands of Curaçaoans living abroad as the island faces an aging population and a growing need for workers to sustain economic growth and the social security system.
In written questions submitted to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, Monte argues that encouraging Curaçaoans in the Netherlands to return should become part of a broader strategy to strengthen the island’s working-age population.
According to the parliamentarian, Curaçao has discussed the need for population growth for years. The challenge has become more pressing as the population ages, increasing the importance of having enough working people contributing to the economy and financing social programs, including the pension system.
At the same time, Monte says Curaçao’s economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic has created greater demand for people with knowledge, professional skills and appropriate training.
He believes this creates an opportunity for the government to focus specifically on Curaçaoans already living in the Netherlands.
Many originally moved there to study, while others left Curaçao for employment or personal reasons. Some eventually want to return but encounter practical obstacles that make moving back difficult, according to Monte.
The MP says government policy should therefore go beyond encouraging students to return immediately after graduation.
He wants Curaçao to examine the possibilities of attracting a much broader group, including experienced professionals and even retirees who may be interested in returning after years in the Netherlands.
Monte cited Statistics Netherlands figures showing that 199,164 people living in the Netherlands at the beginning of 2026 were classified as having a Dutch Caribbean background, including 108,823 who were born outside the Netherlands. Those figures cover the Dutch Caribbean as a whole and do not establish how many are specifically Curaçaoans.
That lack of detailed information is precisely one of the problems Monte wants the government to address.
He is asking whether the government currently knows how many Curaçaoans live in the Netherlands and, more importantly, how many would consider returning if the right conditions existed.
Monte proposes research that would distinguish respondents according to factors such as age, educational level, employment status and the length of time they have lived in the Netherlands.
He also wants researchers to speak with Curaçaoans who have already returned. Their experiences could identify obstacles involving employment, housing or other aspects of resettlement and help determine what government policies could make the transition easier for future returnees.
The MP argues that Curaçao should first understand those barriers before designing incentives or programs.
He has proposed assigning Minister Plenipotentiary Sidney Justiana a role in reaching Curaçaoans throughout the Netherlands and gathering information directly from the community.
Monte noted that remigration has previously been identified as an issue deserving more structured attention within the Curaçao Country Package. He also pointed to concerns in the Dutch Parliament about the loss of talent from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
For Monte, however, Curaçao should ultimately take responsibility for developing its own response.
Rather than continuing to ask why Curaçaoans choose to remain abroad, he says policymakers should determine what Curaçao needs to offer or change so that returning becomes economically and practically possible.
Monte has requested written answers from Pisas under Article 96 of the Rules of Procedure of Curaçao Parliament.