WILLEMSTAD – The government of Curaçao is facing renewed criticism from the College financieel toezicht Curaçao en Sint Maarten (Cft) over its handling of the 2026 national budget.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Finance Minister Charles Cooper, Cft chairman Hans Hoogervorst stated that the government has not adequately addressed the recommendations issued earlier this year to correct shortcomings in the 2026 budget.
On January 23, the Cft advised the government to adjust the budget so it would comply with the legal requirements under the Kingdom’s financial supervision framework. Cooper was asked to explain by February 6 how the government intended to implement the recommendations.
According to the Cft, the minister responded only on February 18 and the response provided “insufficient implementation” of the recommendations.
As a result, doubts about the reliability of the 2026 budget remain unresolved. The Cft highlighted ongoing uncertainty about the financial impact of two key issues: the increase in the AOV pension payments and the financial restructuring of the Curaçao Medical Center.
Despite the criticism, the supervisory board has given the minister another opportunity to respond. Cooper has been granted one week to reply to the latest letter and has been asked to submit a draft amendment to the national budget by May 15.
The revised proposal should address the concerns raised by the Cft and provide greater clarity about the financial implications of government policies and obligations.