A shadow looms over the Ministry of Traffic, Transport, and Spatial Planning (VVRP), and it demands more than silence. The ongoing corruption investigation involving the ministry’s Public Works Implementation Office (UOOW) has triggered arrests, house raids, and public concern—but from Minister Charles Cooper, we have heard little beyond a careful retreat behind institutional process.
Former Member of Parliament Ana-Maria Pauletta (PAR) has stepped forward to raise alarms that not only external contractors, but also employees within the VVRP, have grown weary of alleged irregularities that have plagued the ministry. Her warnings are not speculative—they are grounded in concrete actions. Pauletta challenged Minister Cooper in Parliament last December with two specific letters tied to the controversial Life Extension project, which reportedly exposed violations in the procurement process. Despite clear indications that selected contractors failed to meet bidding requirements, the projects proceeded—under Cooper’s direction, according to documents shown to Parliament.
Yet the Minister denied the very existence of these letters—until Pauletta produced them on the parliamentary floor.
This moment, by any democratic standard, should have sparked immediate political introspection, if not action. Instead, the minister appeared visibly rattled and dismissed the exchange, opting instead for a minimalist response: “Let the OM and Landsrecherche do their job.”
Yes, the judicial system must indeed follow due process—but government accountability does not begin or end with prosecution. The public deserves clarity, not carefully managed detachment.
Now, with multiple individuals arrested and goods seized as part of the UOOW investigation, the minister's continued refusal to address growing concerns is no longer just cautious—it risks becoming complicit in undermining public trust. Meanwhile, companies such as Aliansa Civil & Road Works, one of the contractors on the Life Extension project, have issued their own public statements distancing themselves from any wrongdoing, asserting that their work complied fully with applicable laws and regulations.
It is telling that private firms are now stepping forward to clarify their position more transparently than the public official overseeing the ministry.
Minister Cooper may not be the subject of formal charges, but he is undoubtedly at the helm of a ministry under serious scrutiny. In any modern democracy, a minister facing such credible and public allegations—especially after contradicting evidence presented on the parliamentary floor—would be expected to offer more than a one-line dismissal.
This is not just a test of legality. It is a test of political responsibility.
As the investigation continues, we urge the VVRP Minister to reconsider his silence. Leadership demands more than avoiding speculation—it requires accountability, transparency, and the courage to confront hard truths, even before the courts do.
The people of Curaçao are watching, and they deserve better.
