WILLEMSTAD – Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK) addressed Parliament this week regarding the findings in Curaçao’s 2019 annual financial report, which received strong criticism from oversight bodies. According to both the General Audit Chamber and the government accounting office SOAB, the financial management in 2019 failed to meet legal standards. 

The investigation revealed that approximately 97.3 million guilders in expenditures were made without parliamentary approval. As a result, both oversight bodies issued a disclaimer of opinion on the reliability of the figures and a negative opinion on the legality of the financial actions taken during that year. 

Silvania attributed most of these issues to the previous Rhuggenaath administration, stating that many of the unauthorized expenses occurred during that government's term. He also pointed out that some individuals are now demanding bonus payments, even though those amounts were never included in the budget approved at the time. 

The current government, Silvania said, is considering including the disputed amounts in the 2025 budget, depending on the broader financial outlook. Additionally, efforts are already underway to strengthen internal financial controls, in line with recommendations from the oversight institutions. 

The finance minister noted that Curaçao's annual accounts for 2020, 2021, and 2022 have now been reviewed and are currently under evaluation by the Advisory Council. He called on Parliament to commit to greater transparency and cooperation in order to bring long-term improvement to Curaçao’s public finances. 

The debate highlights the lasting effects of past financial mismanagement and the need for institutional reforms to ensure accountability and fiscal discipline moving forward.