WILLEMSTAD – A group of residents gathered behind the old public library building in Willemstad to protest ongoing problems surrounding land issues and the conversion of lease land into long leasehold rights on Curaçao.
According to the protesters, some residents have been waiting for more than forty years for clarity regarding the legal status of their land.
The demonstration was led by Elvin Gerard, a staff member of the opposition party Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP).
Gerard stated that the residents were standing up for what they consider their rights and demanding fairer treatment in the handling of land-related cases.
Many of the participants, particularly elderly residents, expressed frustration over what they see as unequal treatment within the system.
According to those present, newer applications appear to be processed more quickly while older cases remain unresolved for decades.
The perceived difference in treatment has created growing dissatisfaction among affected residents, who argue that greater equality and transparency are needed in the handling of land matters.
Land allocation, leasehold conversions, and government land policy remain politically sensitive topics on Curaçao, where delays and administrative backlogs have frequently generated public criticism and legal disputes.
The protesters are calling for faster processing of long-pending files and clearer communication from authorities regarding the status of existing applications.