WILLEMSTAD – The Council of Advice of Curaçao processed 32 out of 39 legislative advisory requests in 2024, but nearly a third of these were marked as urgent—raising concerns about the quality and planning of legislation on the island.
According to the Council’s annual report, 31% of all advice requests were labeled as urgent, largely due to time pressure related to the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) evaluation. The CFATF assesses compliance with international standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
Quality Under Pressure
The Council has expressed ongoing concern about the frequency of emergency requests. "This is not only a matter of increased workload but also about maintaining legislative quality," the report states. Since 2023, the Council has been scrutinizing whether the reasons for urgency in each request are valid.
In November 2024, the Council publicly stated it could not issue an expedited opinion on the draft national ordinance for a minimum tax due to time constraints. It reiterated that the volume of urgent requests “undermines the conditions necessary for high-quality legislation.”
When Urgency Is Justified
The Council acknowledged that urgent handling may sometimes be warranted—for example, when deadlines for implementing international regulations are at risk or when serious flaws in existing laws require immediate correction.
However, the Council pointed out that such situations should be the exception, not the norm. It emphasized the need for better planning and consistent monitoring of the legislative process. Despite knowing as early as 2023 that a FATF evaluation was scheduled for June 2024, the Council only received a limited number of draft regulations by May 2024.
Cross-Border Crime and FATF Risks
Several advisory requests in 2024 focused on combatting cross-border crime, particularly regarding anti-money laundering laws, terrorist financing, and international drug trafficking.
The Council urged swift and thorough legislative action in these areas, warning that any delays could result in Curaçao being placed on the FATF's grey or black list—an outcome that could damage the island’s financial reputation.
Proactive Measures
In addition to responding to formal requests, the Council also issued unsolicited advice in 2024 to prevent emerging legal risks. One example was a recommendation concerning the draft gambling ordinance, following the government's failure to act on previous assessments.
The Council concluded its report with a renewed call for better coordination, long-term planning, and respect for the legislative process to ensure good governance and compliance with international standards.
