WILLEMSTAD – The General Audit Office of Curaçao (Algemene Rekenkamer Curaçao) is reportedly wasting approximately 1.5 million guilders annually by consistently underutilizing its budget. This issue was highlighted by Stanley Bodok in a detailed article on LinkedIn, where he argued that the problem goes beyond financial implications and reveals a deeper organizational flaw: a lack of decisiveness and effectiveness in overseeing government spending.
According to Bodok, the Audit Office spends around 30% less than its allocated annual budget of 5 million guilders. In 2022 alone, 39% of its funds remained unused. Over the past three years, this underutilization has amounted to a total of 5 million guilders.
Ironically, the unused funds are returned to the state treasury—a system whose transparency the Audit Office itself has previously called into question. Bodok labeled this as a "painful example" of how the institution undermines its own relevance.
Chronic Staffing Shortages
The primary reason for the budget underutilization is a persistent staffing shortage, an issue that has plagued the organization for over a decade. A 2012 report by Transparency International flagged the lack of qualified professionals at the Audit Office, a problem that remains largely unresolved. Despite ongoing recruitment efforts, as noted in recent annual reports, the institution has struggled to attract and retain skilled personnel.
Bodok highlighted a vicious cycle: staffing challenges delay critical audits, which in turn diminishes trust in the institution and its appeal to prospective employees.
Mission Undermined
The Audit Office has publicly stated its commitment to “prudent use of public funds.” However, Bodok argued that this statement is misleading. He pointed out that planned audits focusing on legality, efficiency, and integrity are regularly postponed or canceled due to resource constraints. This failure not only jeopardizes the institution's mission but also undermines Curaçao’s rule of law by weakening essential oversight mechanisms.
The societal impact of the Audit Office’s inaction is significant. “Additional audits could have contributed to greater societal effectiveness year after year,” Bodok stated. The unused funds were specifically allocated to support planned investigations, and failing to carry them out means the Audit Office is falling short in its responsibilities as a High Council of State.