WILLEMSTAD – Member of Parliament Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia (PNP) has raised critical questions to Prime Minister Gilmar “Pik” Pisas (MFK) following an invitation circulated by the Ministry of General Affairs, Planning and Public Service (BPD), at a time when indexation of the Old Age Pension (AOV) has yet to materialize.
According to reports, the cabinet recently announced that budget constraints would prevent the organization of large public celebrations, opting instead to distribute a ANG 300 voucher. Against that backdrop, Larmonie-Cecilia says she is questioning government priorities.
An invitation sent by BPD Minister Kimberley Lew-Jen-Tai (MFK) for an event scheduled on December 19 reportedly lists performances by Cache Deluxe, Tune, and DJ Bradley, with a “Classic Chique” dress code. In addition, an invitation has reportedly been circulating for a “Gala Experience” organized by the Ministry of Traffic, Transport and Spatial Planning (VVRP).
In response, Larmonie-Cecilia questioned how many other ministerial events may be taking place without parliamentary knowledge, asking whether additional invitations are being circulated beyond those already identified.
The PNP parliamentarian also wants to know whether these events were formally presented to and approved by the Council of Ministers. If so, she questions why the prime minister would deviate from the government’s own publicly announced policy of austerity.
Larmonie-Cecilia expressed concern about what she described as a style of governance that increasingly resembles “a party hall for the happy few,” particularly while many elderly citizens continue to wait for long-promised AOV indexation.