WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's General Audit Chamber says it is investing heavily in technology, recruitment and professional training as it modernizes the country's supreme audit institution.
According to its 2025 Annual Report, the organization has begun incorporating new technologies, including research into responsible applications of artificial intelligence, to improve investigative efficiency and strengthen data-driven analysis.
Chairman Joël Felida says innovation is not an objective in itself but a tool for delivering stronger oversight and contributing to a more transparent public administration.
The report states that the Audit Chamber intends to further intensify its AI and digitalization efforts during 2026 while also strengthening relationships with Parliament, government institutions and other stakeholders.
The institution also expanded its workforce during 2025.
Staff increased from 14 employees at the beginning of the year to 20 by year-end following the recruitment of six additional investigators and two new support staff members. Among the new hires are both a Registered Accountant and a Certified Public Accountant.
Despite that growth, the organization remains understaffed.
The report says only 20 of 30 approved positions were filled by the end of 2025, leaving the Audit Chamber operating at roughly 67 percent of its authorized staffing level, with most vacancies concentrated in its investigative division.
Professional development also remained a priority.
Two investigators completed the internationally recognized Professional Education for SAI Auditors (PESA) certification developed by the INTOSAI Development Initiative, and the Audit Chamber plans to make the program part of its standard onboarding process for future investigators.
Recruitment efforts extended beyond Curaçao.
The institution participated in the National Career Fair in the Netherlands in an effort to attract students and professionals interested in returning to Curaçao to work in public oversight.
While the Audit Chamber reported strong visibility during the event, it acknowledged that recruitment remains challenging due to a tight labor market.
The report concludes that investing in qualified personnel, modern technology and international best practices is essential if the institution is to continue strengthening accountability, transparency and integrity within Curaçao's public sector.