WILLEMSTAD – A Curaçao court has ordered the foundation behind a church in Groot Kwartier to pay GI-RO Settlement Holding more than ANG 907,000 over years of unpaid fees related to the use of radio station Hit 100.3's broadcasting capacity.
The case involves Fundashon Iglesia Lluvia de Bendicion Curaçao, associated with former pastor Orlando Balentien. Balentien was previously convicted of sexual offenses.
The dispute dates back to 2015, when the foundation resumed radio broadcasts from its church in Groot Kwartier following arrangements with Curaçao Radio Station (CRS) and Hit 100.3.
Under the arrangement, the foundation was required to pay ANG 13,000 per month for broadcasting capacity. An additional ANG 40,000 was agreed upon in connection with the transfer of Hit 100.3.
The foundation used the broadcasting capacity around the clock for years, but a substantial portion of the monthly payments remained unpaid.
According to the claim presented in court, ANG 1.248 million in payment obligations accumulated over an eight-year period. Of that amount, ANG 447,775 had been paid, leaving an outstanding balance of ANG 800,225 by July 2023. The debt subsequently continued to increase.
In June 2024, CRS/Hit sent the foundation an overview showing that the outstanding debt had risen to approximately ANG 900,000.
The claim was eventually transferred to GI-RO Settlement Holding in May 2025 for ANG 907,156.94. GI-RO subsequently placed attachments on property belonging to the foundation on Van Kinsbergenlaan in Groot Kwartier as part of its effort to recover the debt.
The church foundation disputed the claim. It argued, among other things, that no definitive agreement had been reached regarding the transfer of the broadcasting equipment and license. The foundation also maintained that it had since purchased new equipment and that CRS/Hit no longer possessed a broadcasting license.
The court rejected those arguments.
According to the ruling, the agreements between the parties established that the foundation had a payment obligation and was required to pay ANG 13,000 per month.
The court also determined that the transfer of the claim to GI-RO was valid, giving GI-RO the right to collect the outstanding amount.
The foundation must therefore pay GI-RO more than ANG 907,000, together with applicable interest and legal costs.
The dispute also has a connection to the settlement of Girobank. Local reporting indicates that CRS and Hit 100.3 themselves had outstanding obligations to GI-RO Settlement Holding, after which the radio-related claim against the church foundation was transferred to GI-RO.
The ruling brings significant financial consequences for the foundation after years of unpaid broadcasting fees and gives GI-RO the legal authority to continue recovering the debt.