Member of Parliament David Seferina (MFK faction) has submitted questions to the Minister of Economic Development regarding safety at Curaçao’s beaches. The inquiry follows several recent news reports of tourists who tragically lost their lives at sea on local beaches.
According to Mr. Seferina, each of these incidents is a tragedy for the families involved. At the same time, they highlight the critical need to continually assess how Curaçao can make its beaches safer, both for tourists and local residents.
“Our beaches are essential to our tourism, but above all, this is about safety and human life. That is why we must look at what more can be done to prevent accidents and ensure help is available as quickly as possible when something happens,” stated Mr. Seferina.
In this context, Mr. Seferina referred to a cooperation agreement between the Curaçao Tourist Board and Blauwe Kruis aimed at improving medical emergency response at beaches. The MP requested further clarification on what this agreement entails, the responsibilities of each party, and what individuals can concretely expect during a beach emergency.
Another issue raised by Mr. Seferina is beach signage and information. According to the MP, it is necessary to check whether there are sufficient clear, visible signs warning about sea currents and conditions, instructions on what to do in an emergency, and contact numbers for both tourists and residents.
Mr. Seferina also asked the Government to evaluate the possibility of deploying professional lifeguards to the most visited beaches. Furthermore, he wants to know if lifebuoys or other rescue equipment are readily accessible for immediate use in emergencies. If not, he requests that the Government consider how such equipment can be installed.
Finally, Mr. Seferina inquired whether the Government has a comprehensive beach safety plan for Curaçao. According to the MP, beach safety should not rely solely on reactive measures after an accident occurs; prevention must be an essential pillar of policy.
“These questions are not meant to create alarm. The goal is precisely to emphasize prevention and take timely measures. When an emergency happens, it must be clear who responds, how help arrives, and what equipment is available. At the same time, we must do everything reasonably possible to prevent serious incidents from happening in the first place,” Mr. Seferina noted.
Seferina emphasized that beach safety is not strictly a tourism issue—it is about protecting human lives and maintaining trust in Curaçao as a destination where both visitors and locals can enjoy the beaches safely.