WILLEMSTAD – PAR Member of Parliament Shaheen Elhage is calling on the Curaçao government to explain how higher social assistance payments will be combined with employment, education and broader anti-poverty policies to reduce long-term dependence on government benefits.
The questions form part of a September 23 letter to Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare Charetti America-Francisca following advice from the Social Economic Council (SER) on proposed changes to Curaçao's Social Assistance Act.
Elhage had previously submitted questions on August 17 concerning income security, poverty reduction and the government's responsibilities under Article 23 of Curaçao's Constitution. Those questions focused, among other things, on concrete targets, financial resources, implementation and measurable results.
His latest questions go further by asking whether increasing welfare payments will actually help recipients move toward economic independence.
Elhage wants the minister to disclose how many people currently receiving social assistance are capable of working, how many are participating in programs leading to employment, education or entrepreneurship, and how many recipients have successfully left the welfare system because they found employment.
He is also asking the minister to establish measurable targets for reducing long-term dependence on social assistance.
The questions reflect a broader concern raised by the PAR parliamentarian: poverty cannot be addressed solely by increasing monthly payments.
Elhage points to Article 23 of Curaçao's Constitution, which places responsibility on the government regarding income security, distribution of prosperity and the welfare of the population. He argues that poverty is not simply an income problem but is also connected to employment, education, healthcare, housing, energy costs and debt.
He therefore wants America-Francisca to explain how the planned increase in social assistance will be incorporated into an integrated poverty-reduction policy involving other ministries.
His letter specifically asks how SOAW intends to coordinate the policy with the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning.
Elhage stressed that an increase in social assistance is important but warned against treating the higher benefit itself as evidence that the underlying problem has been solved.
“A higher amount does not automatically mean that we have achieved structural income security,” the MP states in his letter.
The PAR parliamentarian wants the government to move beyond plans and analyses and demonstrate concrete implementation and measurable results.
He has requested written answers supported by specific figures, financial information, implementation data and a clear timetable.