WILLEMSTAD – The political fallout intensified this week after the Raad van Advies revealed that the government had inserted ministers and parliamentarians into a bill intended solely to adjust vacation pay for civil servants. Opposition leader Quincy Girigorie (PAR) is now demanding that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas explain when and how the disputed changes were approved by the Council of Ministers.
In his parliamentary address, Girigorie posed two direct questions to the government: On what date did the Council of Ministers approve the altered bill, and did the Council knowingly agree to include raises for ministers and MPs? The PAR faction insists that the public deserves clarity, given the implications for constitutional oversight and ethical governance.
The controversy stems from an advisory letter dated 21 November, in which the Council of Advice reprimanded the government for presenting an amended bill as though it had received prior approval. According to the Council, the legislative process was misused, state regulations were violated, and the amended version should never have been sent to Parliament.
“The government was obligated to remove the sections related to ministers and parliamentarians because they are illegal,” Girigorie stated. “This was not done voluntarily. It was done because they were caught.” He added that the attempt amounted to placing MPs in a coercive position where rejecting the political pay raise would simultaneously deny civil servants their rightful benefits.
Despite the controversy, the corrected version of the law—limited to civil servants—was ultimately passed. Girigorie commended both opposition members and at least one coalition MP for standing on principle and refusing to endorse what he called an unethical maneuver.
He concluded by stressing that public trust depends on principled leadership. “When we replace ethics, principles and doing what is right with popularity, power and fastballs, we destroy a country,” Girigorie said. His speech has already sparked renewed debate over transparency, accountability and political culture in Curaçao.