WILLEMSTAD – Former Minister of Finance and current MFK Member of Parliament Javier Silvania is calling on Prime Minister and MFK leader Gilmar Pisas to restore peace and unity within the party amid the growing dispute surrounding Curaçao’s online gaming sector.
Silvania also criticized the statements made by current Minister of Finance Charles Cooper regarding the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), the implementation of the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), and payments made during Silvania’s tenure as finance minister.
According to Silvania, Cooper’s public statements contain factual inaccuracies and create unnecessary uncertainty around one of Curaçao’s most important emerging economic sectors. He argued that public debate should be based on verified facts rather than assumptions or insinuations.
Silvania said that when he became Minister of Finance, Curaçao’s online gaming industry was facing significant international criticism because of the previous system, in which private entities controlled the licensing process without direct government supervision.
The introduction of the LOK represented, according to Silvania, the largest reform in the history of Curaçao’s gaming sector. The reform required the creation of a new regulator, a modern licensing framework, digital licensing systems, compliance procedures, responsible gaming standards, anti-money laundering controls and new governance structures.
“This was not a simple administrative exercise,” Silvania stated. “It meant building a modern regulator almost from the ground up while ensuring that an important economic sector could continue operating without interruption.”
Dispute Over ANG 8.3 Million Payment
Silvania strongly rejected Cooper’s claim that Random Consulting receives ANG 8.3 million annually from the Curaçao Gaming Authority.
According to Silvania, Random Consulting’s own public statement indicates that the company received a total of €3.426 million from 2022 until today, figures that are reflected in annual accounts filed with the Malta Chamber of Commerce.
Silvania also referred to a press release from Random Consulting stating that Cooper himself was present during a meeting where payments for consultancy work by CGA were discussed.
The former minister also disputed Cooper’s statement that the LOK has been in force for three years. According to Silvania, the legislation entered into effect on December 24, 2024, meaning it has been operational for less than two years.
Silvania further argued that Cooper does not fully understand how the licensing framework is financed.
Under the LOK, each Business-to-Consumer (B2C) gaming license payment is divided into two separate payments. A total annual license fee amounts to €47,450 per license, of which €24,490 is paid directly to the Ministry of Finance. The remaining €22,960 is paid directly to the Curaçao Gaming Authority to cover supervisory activities.
According to Silvania, the supervisory fee does not represent general government revenue but is a statutory financing mechanism that allows CGA to perform its legal duties, including licensing procedures, regulatory supervision, compliance monitoring, investigations, enforcement, staffing and operation of licensing systems.
“The fact that CGA uses permanent employees or external consultants does not affect government revenue,” Silvania stated. “These are operational costs of CGA, financed through supervisory fees and not from the government treasury.”
Malta Expertise Defended
Silvania also defended the decision to use expertise from Malta, arguing that international specialists were necessary during the transition to the new regulatory system.
According to him, Malta had already completed a similar transformation by modernizing its gaming legislation, strengthening supervision and creating an internationally respected licensing system.
“Using specialized expertise from Malta is not evidence of wrongdoing. It is evidence of responsible governance,” Silvania said.
He compared the situation with other jurisdictions such as Malta, Gibraltar and the Isle of Man, which have successfully developed regulated gaming industries that generate employment, attract investment and contribute tax revenues.
Silvania also questioned why external consultants are criticized in the gaming sector while other government-related organizations use international expertise.
He pointed to the Regulatory Authority of Curaçao (RAC), which operates under Cooper’s responsibility and uses international consultants such as KPMG for investigations. According to Silvania, hiring external expertise is not unusual when specialized knowledge is required.
Call for CGA Transparency
Silvania said he supports transparency but believes the public must receive accurate information.
He called on Cooper to allow the Curaçao Gaming Authority to issue a public explanation about the payments and the role of external consultants.
According to Silvania, the investigation announced by Cooper should instead focus on areas such as Domeinbeheer and Fundashon Kas Popular, where he believes there are more urgent questions regarding public funds and management.
“The people of Curaçao deserve transparency, but they also deserve correct information,” Silvania stated.
He called on Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas to intervene and restore unity within MFK.
“The current situation within the party must be addressed. MFK needs peace and unity,” Silvania said.
Silvania warned that inaccurate statements about the gaming sector could damage the reputation of Curaçao among investors, financial institutions and international operators.
“Confidence is difficult to build and easy to lose,” he said. “Ministers have a responsibility to seek accurate information before making public statements.”