WILLEMSTAD - The PNP parliamentary faction launched a fierce attack on the government’s financial management during yesterday’s Central Committee meeting, using the devastating report from the General Audit Chamber to illustrate what they called the “total bankruptcy” of Curaçao’s finances.
Member of Parliament Sheldry Osepa opened his speech by quoting the report’s first line:
“Since its inception in 2010, the country of Curaçao has never received an unqualified audit opinion.”
After 15 years, Osepa said, this is no longer an administrative oversight but a chronic failure, now confirmed by the highest financial oversight body of the country.
“Parliament’s Authority Not Taken Seriously”
Osepa directly accused the government of showing disrespect for Parliament, pointing to the budget right as “one of the few constitutional powers Parliament actually holds.”
“And yet, even that small authority is not taken seriously,” he said.
He then questioned the legality of the government’s actions, asking the Audit Chamber representatives present:
“If the administration keeps the books in violation of the law — is that not punishable?”
To drive the point home, Osepa drew a simple comparison for the public:
“If this were your own business, would you tolerate what’s happening in our country?”
“A Fundamental Problem”
PNP faction leader Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia provided a broader analysis, arguing that the ongoing financial issues are not isolated mistakes but signs of a fundamental, structural problem within the government apparatus.
“We face a fundamental problem,” she said. “Every year the Audit Chamber tells us we are not in compliance. What kind of magic wand will make us comply?”
Larmonie-Cecilia questioned whether the persistent failures were the result of a deliberate way of operating or simply a lack of capacity within government institutions.
Loss of Moral Authority
The PNP leader also addressed what she described as the loss of moral authority of the government — a point that, she said, resonates deeply with citizens.
“It paints a clear picture: if the government cannot manage its own finances correctly, how can it expect the people to meet their obligations?”
PNP Says Warnings Were Ignored
Osepa reminded Parliament that the PNP had previously warned about these issues. He referred to a motion submitted by the PNP that would have required the government to inform Parliament monthly of any budget changes not previously approved. That motion, however, was rejected by the governing MFK coalition.
The PNP concluded that the Audit Chamber’s findings confirm what the party had been saying all along — that Curaçao’s public finances are being mismanaged and accountability has eroded.
“It’s time to stop treating public money like a game,” the faction declared. “Every official and every cent that belongs to the people must be held accountable — responsabilisá kada depchi, kada sodó di e pueblo akí.”
