WILLEMSTAD – Several members of Curaçao Parliament are calling for a public parliamentary debate following the decision of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to abstain from a United Nations vote on a resolution addressing the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Parliamentarians Giselle Mc William, Suzy Camelia-Romer of MAN-PIN, and Parliament President Fergino Brownbill have formally requested an urgent meeting to discuss the issue.
The request follows a vote held on March 25 at the United Nations General Assembly, where a resolution recognizing the trans-Atlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity was adopted with 123 votes in favor. A total of 52 countries, including the Netherlands, abstained, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina voted against.
According to the parliament members, there was insufficient consultation with Curaçao prior to the Kingdom’s decision, despite the sensitivity of the issue within the local community. The lawmakers argue that the subject is not only political but also deeply connected to the island’s history and collective memory.
Camelia-Romer had previously raised questions to Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas regarding the Kingdom’s voting position.
In a letter submitted to Parliament, the members are requesting a public session to clarify how the Kingdom’s stance was determined and why abstention was chosen instead of supporting the resolution.
The call for debate underscores broader concerns about Curaçao’s involvement in Kingdom-level decisions on matters with significant historical and societal impact.