The latest revelations about alleged corruption within Curaçao’s Tax Department are nothing short of alarming. According to ongoing investigations led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM), the head of the local tax authority is suspected of granting unlawful financial advantages to certain companies and individuals — including premature tax refunds, unregistered payment arrangements, and the deliberate failure to send reminders to delinquent taxpayers.

These are not small administrative errors. If proven true, they represent a systemic abuse of public power that strikes at the very heart of good governance. Reports indicate that these “special arrangements” were made directly with the head of the Landsontvanger — often by phone or even via WhatsApp — and intentionally kept off the official books. Such shadow dealings make any form of oversight or auditing impossible.

The Cft (College financieel toezicht) has, for years, warned about severe shortcomings in Curaçao’s tax collection system. The financial watchdog has repeatedly expressed concern over the high level of unpaid taxes and social premiums, calling the situation unsustainable. Meanwhile, a 2022 SOAB audit had already flagged that agreements were being logged in a separate, hidden database — effectively enabling the manipulation of payments and refunds without accountability.

The investigation reportedly also involves Dutch companies active in Curaçao — including Rituals, Jamin, Pearl Vision, AFAS, and DA drugstores — underscoring that this issue transcends local politics. It affects Curaçao’s international reputation as a trustworthy jurisdiction for business and investment.

Let us be clear: corruption destroys the economy of a country. When civil servants and officials misuse their positions for personal or political gain, they undermine public trust, drive away investors, and weaken the very institutions that sustain our democracy. Every illegal favor, every “under-the-table” arrangement, chips away at the foundation of our nation’s integrity.

If the allegations are confirmed, those responsible must be held fully accountable — not quietly transferred or allowed to retire with benefits, but punished according to the law. Anything less would send a dangerous message that corruption is tolerated in Curaçao’s public sector.

We must set an example for all civil servants and government officials: public office is a position of trust, not privilege. The people of Curaçao deserve a government that is transparent, fair, and accountable — one that upholds the rule of law without fear or favor.

The Curaçao Chronicle calls on the authorities to conduct this investigation thoroughly, to prosecute swiftly where guilt is established, and to implement the long-overdue reforms that will finally bring integrity and professionalism to our tax administration.

Corruption may enrich a few in the short term — but it impoverishes an entire nation in the long run. It is time to draw the line, once and for all.