WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao's General Audit Chamber (Algemene Rekenkamer Curaçao) says it significantly expanded its oversight activities during 2025 but warns that improving public accountability ultimately depends on whether government and Parliament act on its findings.
In its newly released 2025 Annual Report, the independent constitutional watchdog highlights five major investigations completed during the year, while another nine wide-ranging investigations remain underway.
Among the completed reports were investigations into:
- economic permit processing;
- management of government-owned and leased buildings;
- the 2023 national financial statements;
- climate control in schools;
- preparations for obtaining an unqualified audit opinion on government accounts.
The Audit Chamber says its objective extends beyond identifying administrative shortcomings.
By conducting performance and legality audits, it aims to improve government efficiency, strengthen transparency and help Parliament exercise more effective oversight of the executive.
The report notes that performance audits remain the institution's primary focus because they examine not only whether government policies achieve their intended objectives but also whether public funds are being spent efficiently and economically.
One of the most serious findings published during 2025 concerned Curaçao's 2023 national financial statements, which the Audit Chamber concluded do not present a reliable picture of the country's financial position due to billions of guilders in errors and uncertainties.
Other reports found longstanding problems with economic permit processing, rising government rental costs, weaknesses in the management of public buildings and insufficient structural planning for school climate-control investments.
The Audit Chamber also reports that it received another formal request from Parliament during 2025 to investigate financial management and integrity issues surrounding the Curaçaohuis in The Hague.
That investigation will examine both travel expenses declared by the Minister Plenipotentiary and broader financial and personnel management at the Curaçaohuis between 2022 and 2025.
Meanwhile, a previous parliamentary request involving Fundashon Kas Popular remains on hold because the Audit Chamber says it is still waiting for necessary information from the responsible minister.
The report emphasizes that the institution operates independently from both the government and Parliament and determines its own research priorities within the limits established by law.
Looking ahead, the Audit Chamber says it intends to continue investing in digital technologies, data-driven auditing and artificial intelligence to improve the quality and efficiency of its investigations while strengthening its engagement with stakeholders throughout society.