WILLEMSTAD - Despite growing criticism from the community, members of parliament want to continue with travel visits. The President of Parliament is now drawing a line through the travels. Because there is no more money in the budget, she says.
From the community, there is considerable criticism of the travel-loving politicians, because Curaçao has been in a financially difficult situation since the corona crisis. Further cuts must be made, while the parliament's travel budget has already been exceeded by about 100,000 guilders in June this year.
President of Parliament Charetti America-Francisca of the coalition party MFK says she is "aware" of the criticism. At the same time, she says that the criticism has played no part in the measure she is now taking. The only reason to cut the trips is the current lack of funds.
Politicians want to cut back on other posts to be able to travel
Several members of parliament want cuts in other positions in parliament, if necessary, so that they can still travel further. But according to the chairman, that is 'not responsible' and that is why, as far as she is concerned, that is not going to happen, she writes in a letter to all 21 members of parliament.
“With the current state of the budget, cutting back on other items has direct consequences for business operations. It jeopardizes business operations.”
MPs complain about work pressure
It is remarkable that the idea is being put forward by parliament to take money from other posts so that people can travel further. For years, various parties have complained that the Curaçao parliament itself would not have enough money to do its work properly.
For example, there is a shortage of employees per faction. As a result, the political parties in parliament would have too little time to draw up their own bill proposales, prepare debates or ask written questions.
A motion by MP Rennox Calmes of the Trabou pa Kòrsou party was passed in April: money will be added for extra employees.
MPs wanted to attend Parlatino, a gathering of representatives from South America and the Caribbean for the third time this year. Apart from making contacts, little has yet become concrete what such a trip yields. Due to the decision of the President of Parliament, MPs who still want to go to Panama now have to pay all costs out of their own pocket. The trip to The Hague for the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO) in September will continue. Members of parliament from Curaçao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands will then discuss, among other things, how to further deal with COHO and the reforms on the islands.
The speaker of parliament says that she has benefited a lot from her visits to Parlatino, by building a network with other representatives in Latin America. “To my knowledge, all trips were of added value,” says America-Francisca.
She also represented Parlatino at a Eurolat meeting and spoke at a conference for women.