WILLEMSTAD – Member of Parliament and former Minister of Finance Javier Silvania (MFK) has not attended parliamentary meetings since taking office at the end of October. He was also absent at the opening of the budget debates on Monday.
The issue was raised during discussions on the budget chapter concerning State Institutions, when PNP parliamentarian Sheldry Osepa (PNP) drew attention to the prolonged absence of a fellow member of Parliament. Without mentioning any names, Osepa expressed concern about the situation and called for an examination of possible arrangements that would allow for the temporary replacement of Members of Parliament who are absent for extended periods.
Osepa emphasized that elected representatives carry a clear responsibility toward the voters who entrusted them with a mandate. Prolonged absence from parliamentary work, he argued, undermines that responsibility and can weaken the functioning of the legislature.
According to Osepa, the current situation highlights the need for clearer rules and agreements to deal with long-term absences in the future. Such measures, he said, would help safeguard parliamentary continuity and ensure that voters remain properly represented.
Silvania, who previously served as Minister of Finance, has not publicly commented on his absence. No official explanation has yet been provided regarding the reasons for his continued nonattendance.