WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s opposition PNP says growing anger over delayed land applications and administrative backlogs at the Domain Management Office reflects a much deeper frustration within society over inequality, inefficiency, and lack of transparency.
In a political statement released Monday, the Partido Nashonal di Pueblo argued that many citizens feel abandoned after waiting years for responses regarding requests for government land or legalization of property.
The party claims the situation has created widespread distrust toward public administration and intensified public dissatisfaction with the handling of land policy on the island.
According to the PNP, many citizens are struggling to secure land to build homes and improve their living conditions while, according to the opposition, construction permits and approvals appear to move faster for others.
The statement follows recent demonstrations outside the Domain Management Office, where protesters demanded faster processing of applications and greater transparency from authorities.
The opposition says the frustration seen during those protests is not politically manufactured but reflects real experiences shared daily by citizens across Curaçao.
PNP parliamentarian Elvin Gerard has become one of the most outspoken critics of the government’s handling of the issue, repeatedly calling for reforms, accountability, and improved communication with applicants.
Elvin Gerard
The party warned that attempts to dismiss criticism or attack opposition politicians would not solve the underlying problems affecting the public.
“The goal must always remain more important than any personal political battle: serving the people,” the statement said.
The PNP also warned against what it described as a culture of intimidation within politics and insisted that opposition members would continue carrying out their oversight role regardless of political pressure.
The issue of land allocation and delayed applications has rapidly become one of the island’s most politically sensitive topics in recent weeks, placing additional pressure on the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning and the ruling MFK government.