A pattern of scandal and mismanagement at Refineria di Kòrsou

The recent arrest of Venezuela’s former oil minister, Pedro Tellechea Ruiz, and his close collaborators by the Venezuelan Public Ministry adds yet another chapter to the ongoing saga of questionable deals between the Curaçao government, Refineria di Kòrsou, and dubious foreign partners. This is not the first time our island's leadership has signed agreements with individuals or groups that have proven to be disreputable. The ink had barely dried on previous deals with Caribbean Petroleum Refinery (CPR)—a company that falsified documents—before new agreements were made with another group of "Venezuelan crooks," this time led by Tellechea. 

Tellechea and Curaçao Prime Minister Pisas

The pattern is deeply concerning. Time and again, our representatives and leaders seem to enter into agreements that place the future of Curaçao’s most important assets in the hands of untrustworthy actors. This is not just negligence; it is a repeated failure of judgment that jeopardizes our economy and our reputation. Signing deals with fraudulent groups, one after the other, without sufficient due diligence, shows an alarming lack of oversight. 

What’s more disturbing is that this is happening in plain sight. Our leaders are not acting in ignorance; they are signing these deals with their eyes wide open. They laugh off the concerns and warnings of those who see the red flags. The public is expected to watch from the sidelines, powerless as one deal after another collapses, taking our nation’s credibility with it. 

And now, with the arrest of Tellechea, we face yet another blow to the refinery’s prospects. The $450 million deal we thought was secure now hangs in the balance, likely to dissolve into yet another costly mistake. Each time these deals fail, Curaçao loses more than just money—we lose trust in our leaders and in the potential of our nation to rise above this web of corruption. 

This isn’t just an issue of bad luck. It’s an issue of poor governance. Our leaders continue to align themselves with questionable figures, casting long shadows of doubt on their ability to manage Curaçao’s most valuable resources responsibly. 

What’s worse is that they don’t want us to talk about it. We are being discouraged from speaking out, from asking questions, from holding our leaders accountable. But silence is not an option. The people of Curaçao deserve transparency and honesty, especially when our future is at stake. 

It’s time for our government to stop making reckless deals and start showing the people of Curaçao that they can be trusted to act with integrity. The refinery, one of our most critical assets, should be a source of pride and prosperity, not a revolving door for shady characters and failed agreements. 

We must demand better.




Share