WILLEMSTAD – The Democratic Party of Curaçao marked its anniversary on December 8, 2025, issuing a passionate appeal to revive the island’s political ideals and return to the values that shaped Curaçao’s early democratic development.
In a commemorative statement, the party reflected on its founding in 1944 and its historic role in shaping Curaçao’s autonomy. The Democrats highlighted that former Prime Minister Dr. Efraïn Jonckheer, representing the Netherlands Antilles, signed the Kingdom Charter in 1954 — a decisive moment that redefined relations between the autonomous countries of the Kingdom.
According to the party, its mission since the beginning has been to work toward “the happiness of every member of the community,” a commitment it believes was demonstrated most clearly in 1961, when the Democrats introduced a groundbreaking package of social legislation.
These reforms included widow and orphan support, pensions for seniors, unemployment assistance, public housing programs, and universal medical care — policies the party describes as the “torch” that once illuminated Curaçao’s path toward collective well-being.
However, the Democratic Party argues that the island has since drifted away from these principles. The statement warns of “infiltration of systems” and the rise of forces that undermine social unity, replacing idealism with materialism and eroding Curaçao’s identity as “Mama Korsou.”
The party laments that today’s youth question what happened to their inheritance — a Curaçao where people felt safe and fulfilled in their neighborhoods and homes. According to the Democrats, this legacy has been overshadowed by “dark forces” and “shameful scandals” that damage the country’s reputation.
As part of its anniversary observance, the party gathered to symbolically pass its “flambeau of hope” to a new generation. The message emphasizes that Curaçao’s future depends on restoring the authentic warmth of democratic values: living together, sharing with one another, and rejecting the scandals and division that have come to dominate politics.
The statement concludes with a renewed commitment to fight for “bread, peace and freedom” for all citizens — the foundations, the party says, of true democracy and human happiness.