WILLEMSTAD – The Council of Advice has issued a mixed assessment of Curaçao’s draft budget for 2026. While acknowledging improvements in structure and alignment with policy goals compared to previous years, the advisory body also flagged serious shortcomings and financial risks.

According to the Council, the budget demonstrates stronger coherence between government policy, financial planning, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The explanatory memorandum and the Ministry of Finance’s notes are also more detailed than in past years.

However, the Council stressed that much of the budget remains too vague. Policies are often mentioned without being backed by concrete amounts, timelines, or measurable objectives. This lack of specificity makes it nearly impossible to monitor how and when government plans will actually be carried out.

The Council further identified several risks. Rising personnel costs are not tied to any plan for efficiency improvements. Projections for economic growth and tax revenues are described as overly optimistic and insufficiently substantiated. In addition, social funds such as the old-age pension fund are at risk of facing future shortfalls.

In its recommendations, the Council urged the government to strengthen the budget by providing better-founded revenue estimates, formulating SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) objectives, and outlining clear scenarios to prepare for potential setbacks. Only then, the Council noted, will Parliament be able to properly fulfill its supervisory role and ensure that the budget remains a reliable instrument for financial governance.