Opposition Demands Clarity on Tax Office Integrity and Fire Safety

 

WILLEMSTAD – Opposition parties MAN-PIN and PNP are pressing Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK) and Justice Minister Shalten Hato (MFK) for answers regarding recent controversies involving the Receiver’s Office, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM), and the fire safety of Curaçao’s newly renovated tax building in Emmastad.

MAN-PIN faction leader Giselle McWilliam raised concerns about the integrity of the tax collection process, pointing to conflicting statements from the OM and the Receiver. She specifically questioned whether an advisor to Minister Silvania had improperly shared confidential information with the government’s Tax Accountants Bureau (SBAB). McWilliam is also calling for the release of the latest audits to restore public trust in Curaçao’s tax collection system.

PNP party leader Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia focused on safety issues surrounding the new tax office. Leaked documents revealed that the fire department initially deemed the building unsafe. She now demands clarification on whether the subsequent approval process was conducted independently and transparently, and is asking for full access to the related reports.

Larmonie-Cecilia further warned of what she described as a “culture of fear” within the government, where civil servants worry about losing their jobs if their professional advice does not align with political interests.

The questions come amid growing public scrutiny of both governance and accountability in Curaçao’s institutions, with the opposition urging the ministers to provide clarity to Parliament and the community. 




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