WILLEMSTAD - Insurer Inter-Assure sees favorable signals for Curaçao in the recovering economy but is concerned about the lack of coherent and sustainable government policy. The insurer reports this based on its annual figures.
The company achieved a solid profit of almost 700,000 guilders and says it has an even stronger portfolio than the previous year.
According to the insurer, the recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic is largely due to Dutch financial support and the growth of the economy is characterized by separate, mostly international investments in various sectors such as tourism, construction, nautical sector and retail.
But Inter-Assure has confidence in the future because of the stability that Curaçao derives from its position as part of the Kingdom and the influence of, for example, the mega investment by the US government in the expansion and renovation of the consulate.
Social subsidence
Inter-Assure regrets that old promises by successive governments to stimulate economic growth, limit financial risks and repair structural cracks in the governance structure have never been fulfilled.
According to the insurer, this has led to social subsidence, which is evident from the shrinking population of Curaçao.
Poor services to citizens, flawed government procedures, poor infrastructure, a costly hospital that erodes healthcare are the result: none of this is new and nothing is structurally addressed. For many citizens, the result means the end of the story on their beloved island.
The Netherlands
While many problems cannot be resolved without external help, the Curaçao government has turned its back on the Netherlands, according to Inter-Assure.
For example, Dutch in Curaçao education has been reduced to a necessary evil, with serious consequences for the Curaçao youth, who therefore have less chance of further education or work.
A small but telling example is also the lukewarm response to the offer of the Dutch Marechaussee to provide the police force with alcohol testers on occasions.
This offer was rarely used, if at all, allegedly to avoid interference. In traffic accidents due to drunkenness, claimants and insurance companies pay for this piece of autonomy.
Underestimated
The developments outlined above also have negative consequences for contributions to pension funds and the funds themselves, the risks of which are seriously underestimated according to Inter-Assure.
Inter-Assure calls for more critical attention for the General Pension Fund of Curaçao, APC, because pensioners do not benefit from a politically driven investment institution that uses the pension to solve problems or to replenish funds.