WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s approach to tackling poverty is being held back by a lack of political urgency, according to Ombudsman Keursly Concincion, who says solutions are already available but concrete action remains limited.
Speaking during a meeting of economists, Concincion stated that sufficient data and recommendations exist to address poverty on the island, but implementation continues to lag. He emphasized that the issue is no longer about identifying problems, but about taking decisive policy steps.
The ombudsman pointed out that the government has yet to formally respond to recommendations made during a Kingdom conference in 2022. While other countries within the Kingdom have moved forward with measures based on those recommendations, Curaçao has not taken comparable action.
According to Concincion, political will is the key factor in turning existing plans into real support for vulnerable groups. Without that commitment, he warned, progress will remain slow despite growing social challenges.
The government has indicated that it is currently working on a response to the recommendations. However, Concincion’s remarks highlight increasing pressure on policymakers to move from analysis to implementation as poverty continues to affect a significant portion of the population.