WILLEMSTAD - The political tension between the government and opposition has deepened after Quincy Girigorie, leader of the opposition party PAR, formally requested that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas clarify why the Receiver of Taxes, Mr. A. Trona, was reportedly barred from speaking before Parliament despite having received official authorization from the Council of Ministers.

In a detailed letter sent to Parliament President Fergino Brownbill on November 10, Girigorie invoked Article 96 of Parliament’s Rules of Order to submit a series of formal questions to the Prime Minister regarding what he calls “serious inconsistencies” in the government’s handling of the matter.

Conflicting statements from ministers

The controversy began after Prime Minister Pisas stated publicly on October 15 that the issue of “the Receiver’s exemption to speak” was on the Council of Ministers’ agenda and that, in the interest of transparency, he intended to grant Mr. Trona permission to address Parliament regarding allegations made against him.

However, during a Parliamentary session on November 6, Finance Minister Charles Cooper informed lawmakers that while the Council had indeed granted Trona official clearance to speak, he personally disagreed with that decision and therefore did not invite Trona to attend the meeting.

Girigorie said this contradiction raises serious questions about government unity and transparency, noting that the Minister of Finance’s refusal effectively overruled a decision taken collectively by the Council of Ministers.

Questions for the Prime Minister

In his letter, Girigorie posed twelve specific questions to Prime Minister Pisas, asking him to confirm:

The exact date on which the Council granted the Receiver authorization to speak;

The conditions under which the authorization was given;

Whether the exemption applies to specific types of meetings (for example, only committee sessions or all parliamentary sittings);

Whether the Council’s decision can be made available to Parliament for review by November 17;

And whether the principle of “unity of government” still applies if individual ministers can publicly contradict the Council’s collective decision.

Girigorie also pressed the Prime Minister to explain how the public and Parliament should interpret the Council’s decisions if they can be ignored by individual ministers, and whether the Pisas III Cabinet still upholds its commitment to transparency in relation to the operations of the Tax Service.

A call for accountability

The PAR leader further asked whether the Prime Minister would authorize Parliament itself to invite Mr. Trona directly to future sessions — ensuring that ministers cannot block his appearance — and whether Trona’s exemption remains valid for any future requests by Parliament.

Girigorie concluded that the issue has now become one of constitutional importance, questioning whether the current government still functions as a unified Cabinet.

“How can Parliament and the public trust the decisions of the Council of Ministers if they can be disregarded at will?” Girigorie asked in his letter.

The Prime Minister has not yet responded publicly to the questions. The matter is expected to be addressed in Parliament next week, as the opposition calls for clarity, consistency, and accountability from the Pisas administration.