“Hèsta un abuzu!” 

Nearly 30 percent of Curaçao’s people live in poverty today. That is not just a statistic, it is a damning reality. Families go without proper meals, children face hunger in the classroom, and our elderly receive A.O.V. pensions that are lower than those paid in other islands of the Kingdom. For a society that prides itself on resilience, this is unacceptable. 

This crisis is not new. For years, reports have warned that poverty is deepening. Yet the government, led by Prime Minister Gilmar ‘Pik’ Pisas and his MFK ministers, has failed to take decisive action. With full control of parliament and government power, MFK has the authority to implement meaningful reforms. But instead of addressing this urgent social emergency, they continue to play political games while the people suffer. 

Poverty is more than an economic challenge. It is a moral test of leadership. It weakens our economy, undermines education, strains the health system, and erodes the dignity of our people. Ignoring it is not only negligent — it is a betrayal of public trust. 

What Curaçao needs is not more promises or distractions, but concrete action: a serious anti-poverty strategy, fair pensions for our elderly, and policies that provide real opportunities for families to escape hardship. The government must prioritize the people over politics and prove that public office is about service, not self-preservation. 

When 30 percent of a nation is trapped in poverty, the truth is undeniable: Curaçao is failing its people. Leadership must rise to the challenge — not tomorrow, not after the next election, but now. 

Because poverty is not just a number. It is the daily reality of our neighbors, our families, our community. And every day without action is another day of suffering for thousands of Curaçaoans.