WILLEMSTAD – Sheldry Osepa has sharply criticized statements made by Finance Minister Charles Cooper regarding prices within Curaçao’s so-called “makutu básiko,” the regulated basket of essential food products.
According to Osepa, prices of basic goods are in fact rising as a direct result of recent increases in gasoline and diesel prices.
In a series of written parliamentary questions directed to Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof, the PNP parliamentarian stated that consumers are seeing price increases in supermarkets on a daily basis and that essential products are becoming increasingly unaffordable for many families.
The criticism follows recent remarks by Cooper suggesting that products within the makutu básiko would not become more expensive because prices are regulated by the government.
Osepa rejected that explanation, arguing that the finance minister does not sufficiently understand how the system actually works.
According to Osepa, inclusion in the makutu básiko does not mean that prices are fixed. Instead, he said, the regulation only determines the maximum profit margin retailers are allowed to charge.
If costs rise because of higher fuel, transportation or import expenses, the final retail price also increases automatically, according to the parliamentarian.
To support his position, Osepa referred to a 2022 advisory report by the Sociaal-Economische Raad (SER), which he says concluded that a margin-control system alone does not guarantee stable consumer prices.
He also pointed to a 2022 ruling by the Court of First Instance, which according to him confirmed that the current regulation does not guarantee fixed retail prices for consumers.
Osepa argued that the government should consider alternative measures to keep food affordable. Among the options he mentioned were increasing market competition, subsidizing basic products, removing sales taxes on essential goods and using pricing instruments recommended by the OECD to reduce price pressure.
In total, Osepa submitted ten written questions to Minister Middelhof. He is seeking clarification on whether the government acknowledges the impact of fuel prices on basic food products and whether the current makutu básiko system remains effective.
He also questioned why products such as chicken, cheese and cooking oil continue to rise in price and asked what plans the government has once the current arrangement expires in March 2026.
The strongest criticism was directed at Finance Minister Cooper personally. Osepa asked whether the Minister of Economic Development believes that a finance minister who provides “incorrect information” to the public should apologize.