WILLEMSTAD – The opposition in Curaçao is calling on Prime Minister Gilmar “Pik” Pisas to take action to protect the country’s airspace following recent near-collisions involving civilian aircraft above the island.
Member of Parliament Giselle Mc William, leader of the opposition party MAN-PIN, said the prime minister must compel both the United States and Venezuela “to respect our airspace and territory.” In a message posted on Facebook, Mc William described the recent incidents as a direct affront to Curaçao’s sovereignty.
Her comments follow an incident last Friday in which a passenger aircraft operated by U.S. airline JetBlue was forced to take evasive action in Curaçao’s airspace to avoid an American military aircraft. Earlier this week, Dutch broadcaster NOS reported a second near-collision, this time involving a civilian business jet.
According to Mc William, the events highlight a troubling reality in which Curaçao appears to have “nothing more to say” about what happens over its own territory. She warned that repeated incidents of this nature undermine the country’s authority and raise serious questions about safety and control in its airspace.
The near-miss involving the JetBlue flight has already drawn international attention, as cockpit communications indicated that the military aircraft involved was not visible on civilian radar systems. Aviation authorities have confirmed that investigations are underway, while concerns continue to grow about increased military activity in the southern Caribbean amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
Mc William argues that the Curaçao government must now take a firmer stance to ensure that international actors operating in and around the island respect national sovereignty and do not put civilian lives at risk. So far, Prime Minister Pisas has not publicly responded to her call, but the issue is expected to fuel further political debate in the coming days.