WILLEMSTAD – PAR parliamentary leader Quincy Girigorie has submitted a series of parliamentary questions to Justice Minister Shalten Hato seeking clarity on the long-delayed implementation of traffic cameras and legislation needed to support automated traffic enforcement.
In a letter dated July 8 and addressed through Parliament President F. Brownbill, Girigorie invoked Article 96 of Parliament's Rules of Order to formally request answers from the minister regarding the status of the draft National Ordinance on vehicle owner liability ("kentekenaansprakelijkheid") and the official vehicle registration system.
According to the opposition leader, reckless driving continues to be a major problem on the island. He notes that Curaçao records more than 12,000 traffic accidents annually and that motorists increasingly run red lights, endangering road users while costing society millions of guilders in damages and other expenses.
Girigorie argues that many countries have adopted camera technology to improve road safety, reduce pressure on police resources and assist in combating crimes such as vehicle theft. He points out that Curaçao chose this direction as early as 2014, but says the project never progressed effectively because several essential legal and administrative requirements were not put in place.
The PAR leader is asking whether the minister believes traffic cameras would improve road safety, what alternative measures are planned if not, and what the current status is of the legislation governing vehicle owner liability and the formal vehicle registration system. He also wants to know when the draft laws will be submitted to Parliament for consideration.
In addition, Girigorie requests information on the remaining requirements needed before the traffic camera project can become operational, the timeline for completing those requirements, whether cameras already purchased can still be used, and whether the government intends to acquire new cameras and software, including the expected costs and implementation schedule.
The questions place renewed attention on a project that has been discussed for more than a decade but has yet to be implemented despite ongoing concerns over traffic safety on Curaçao.