WILLEMSTAD – Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage (PAR) is calling on Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas to provide a formal response to an open letter submitted in July 2025 regarding Curaçao’s position on products originating from territories illegally occupied by Israel.
Elhage has requested that Parliament President Fergino Brownbill forward the matter to the Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs. The request was submitted under Article 96 of the Rules of Order of the Curaçao Parliament.
The issue concerns an open letter sent by eight Curaçao organizations, including medical organizations, human rights groups and other civil society representatives. The organizations asked the government to evaluate Curaçao’s obligations under international law in relation to a request from the Dutch government concerning products from territories illegally occupied by Israel.
According to Elhage, the organizations requested that the Curaçao government consider the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on July 19, 2024, and determine whether changes are needed in Curaçao’s trade policies and public procurement procedures.
However, Elhage stated that no public response has yet been issued addressing the arguments presented in the letter.
He is now asking the government to provide clarity on whether the request was evaluated, whether a legal assessment was carried out, and what position Curaçao has taken regarding the matter.