WILLEMSTAD – Member of Parliament Suzy Camelia-Römer (MAN) wants to know what the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) plans to do with the fact-finding investigation into former Minister of Finance Javier Silvania, which has been ongoing since 2024. Following a recent Supreme Court ruling concerning the consequences of Silvania’s Facebook statement about old tax debts, the parliamentarian is asking whether the OM sees grounds for a criminal investigation and possible prosecution for a potential official misconduct offense.
Camelia-Römer submitted fifteen written questions to Minister of Justice Shalten Hato regarding the matter. She refers to Article 2:344 of the Criminal Code of Curaçao, which concerns official offenses that may financially harm the government.
The case relates to a Facebook post made by Silvania while serving as Minister of Finance, in which he announced that outstanding tax assessments from 2017 and earlier years would be “cancelled.” Following the announcement, the Tax Collector placed more than ANG 3.2 billion in old tax debts outside active collection.
According to previous government statements, approximately ANG 750 million of that amount was considered realistically collectible.
Questions about financial consequences
Camelia-Römer argues that the decision also affected existing payment arrangements with taxpayers. According to her, these arrangements could have represented annual secured revenues of between ANG 120 million and ANG 140 million.
She also points to one specific tax case in which the country allegedly lost approximately ANG 1 million. These amounts, as well as any possible criminal responsibility, have not been established by a criminal court.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office launched a fact-finding investigation into Silvania’s instruction in 2024. According to Camelia-Römer, the OM confirmed in 2025 that the investigation was still ongoing and that it was awaiting the outcome of proceedings before the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court ruling
The Supreme Court issued its ruling on July 10. The case involved a company that relied on Silvania’s public statements in a tax dispute. The Supreme Court overturned an earlier ruling by the Common Court of Justice in the interest of the law.
The Supreme Court did not rule on whether Silvania had any criminal responsibility. However, Camelia-Römer argues that the ruling demonstrates that public statements by a minister can have significant consequences for taxpayers’ legal positions and for government finances.
The parliamentarian therefore wants to know whether the OM will continue the fact-finding investigation, convert it into a criminal investigation or take other steps.
Accountability and transparency
Camelia-Römer is also asking whether Curaçao has a general prosecution policy for official misconduct and corruption cases and whether the minister has issued any instructions to the OM regarding such matters.
In addition, she wants clarification on how the OM communicates with the public about investigations involving major social and financial interests.
Minister Hato has not yet responded to the questions. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has also not announced whether the fact-finding investigation will be closed, continue as a criminal investigation or lead to possible prosecution.