International Day of Older Persons

International Day of Older Persons

1 October 2026

Today is, therefore, the day of older persons. After lunch, I dare to acknowledge that, because I have not noticed a single message from the government. And this while 26 percent of the population is now over the age of 65. Curaçao is aging rapidly, and this process will continue at an accelerated pace.

Meanwhile, the General Pension Act has still not been published and therefore has still not entered into force.

42 percent live entirely on the AOV: more than 4 out of 10 senior citizens who have always lived on the island have no other source of income besides this benefit, such as a supplementary pension or savings.

65 percent of non-working older persons are completely dependent on the AOV.

But the government refuses not only to publish the law, but also to comply with it. According to the law, the AOV must be indexed.

Meanwhile, a small educated base carries this top-heavy demographic structure. 53 percent of the population has, at most, lower vocational and secondary education.

Meanwhile, there is an uncontrolled proliferation of homes for older persons, run by amateurs.

Rightly, the opposition is calling today for a policy for older persons and refers to a policy developed by their minister in 2019.

There is little attention for senior citizens. It is a day to cry. Fortunately, our Blue Wave will be playing football later today, and we can once again forget our misery.

Miguel Goede