WILLEMSTAD – An internal investigation by the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) raises serious questions not only about the management of tourist police foundation Politur, but also about the oversight exercised by CTB itself and the organization's governing bodies.
According to the report, CTB transferred monthly subsidy payments to Politur based on reimbursement claims submitted by the foundation's former chairman. Investigators found that these payments were made without prior verification or formal approval by either Politur's board or its Supervisory Board.
The report concludes that CTB itself failed to implement adequate verification and control procedures before releasing public funds.
The findings suggest that the governance failures extended beyond Politur's internal administration and involved broader weaknesses in supervision and accountability.
The investigation recommends a series of corrective measures, including hiring a forensic accountant to conduct a more detailed financial examination, evaluating the possibility of recovering improperly spent funds through civil proceedings and considering criminal action if warranted by further evidence.
In addition, the report recommends appointing an independent accounting firm, clearly defining financial authority within the organization and implementing a mandatory "four-eyes principle," requiring at least two people to approve significant expenditures.
The recommendations come as Politur continues to manage substantial public funding.
According to the foundation's 2025 financial statements, Politur received more than 2.4 million Caribbean guilders during the year. Of that amount, 1.54 million guilders came from the Crime Fund, while approximately 895,000 guilders was provided by the Curaçao Tourist Board.
During the same period, the foundation invested more than 715,000 guilders in vehicles, equipment and office furniture. At the end of 2025, Politur reported approximately 267,000 guilders in cash reserves and total equity of 887,000 guilders.
The report concludes that the key issue extends beyond determining whether funds were improperly used by the former chairman.
It also raises the broader question of why CTB, Politur's governing board and its supervisory bodies allowed an organization entrusted with public funds to receive and spend millions of guilders over several years without documented decision-making, complete financial records or effective independent oversight.