WILLEMSTAD - The General Audit Chamber of Curaçao (ARC) has confirmed that there is no reason to amend or retract the report on the 2022 financial statements. This decision follows a request from Finance Minister Javier Silvania (MFK), who had asked for changes to the report.
In a letter to Silvania, the ARC states that the additional information provided by the minister does not contribute to the report's objectives. The Audit Office emphasizes its independence and objectivity in conducting its investigations and reporting. According to the ARC, it is standard practice to substantiate responses to the report with evidence, ensuring their reliability and inclusion in the evaluation.
Process
The ARC points out that the feedback it receives is incorporated into the draft report, and relevant comments are noted. The minister had claimed that the report was issued without his formal response. However, the ARC asserts that it is not customary to coordinate comments on received feedback with the minister, given the Audit Office's independent position.
In an earlier letter, the ARC had already informed the minister of the legal deadline, stating that the report had to be submitted by May 7 at the latest. Despite granting Silvania an extension until May 3, there was little time left to incorporate the minister's feedback, according to the ARC.
The Audit Office stresses that its report is based on objective and impartial analyses. Silvania’s letter dated May 13 did not contain any elements that warranted revising the original response, according to the ARC. For completeness, the ARC notes that the reported errors and uncertainties were largely also identified by the Government Accountants Bureau (SOAB) in their audit report.
The ARC indicates that the six-week legal deadline places high pressure on both the Audit Office and the SOAB to conduct the investigation and report on the findings. The delay in providing the necessary audit information by ministries hinders this process and makes it challenging to approve the financial statements.