WILLEMSTAD – Plans to establish an international horse racing track in Curaçao remain stalled because the government has yet to provide the regulatory framework and licensing clarity needed to organize betting on horse races, according to the project's developers.
Hipódromo Internacional de Curaçao Almirante Brión (HICAB) says the absence of the necessary rules has created years of uncertainty, preventing the initiative from moving forward despite agreements that the organization says date back to 2007.
The proposed horse racing complex
In a letter submitted on October 21, HICAB called on the Curaçao Parliament to establish a firm deadline for the consideration and approval of legislation governing horse racing.
The organization argues that the proposed regulations are essential because they would provide the legal basis for obtaining authorization to organize betting activities associated with horse races.
Without that framework, the developers say, the project cannot progress toward its intended operations.
HICAB director Johan Martina has also criticized what he describes as a lack of communication from the Ministry of Justice.
According to Martina, Minister of Justice Shalten Hato has refused to meet with representatives of the project to discuss their concerns and the obstacles they continue to face.
The developers believe direct consultation with the minister is necessary to clarify the government's position and identify the steps required to resolve the outstanding regulatory issues.
HICAB maintains that the government should provide clear answers about the status of the proposed legislation, the requirements for obtaining a permit, and the responsibilities of the institutions involved.
The organization has asked Member of Parliament Gilbert Doran to arrange an urgent parliamentary meeting at which the minister could be questioned about the matter.
The dispute highlights the importance of regulatory certainty for projects whose business models depend on government authorization.
In HICAB's case, the developers argue that the lack of legislation governing horse racing and betting has become a central obstacle to establishing the proposed facility.
The organization is therefore pressing Parliament to move beyond general discussions and establish a specific timetable for handling the outstanding legal framework.
HICAB also wants the government to clarify whether it intends to facilitate the project and what conditions the developers would have to satisfy to obtain the required permits.
The developers maintain that the continued absence of clear regulations has left their investment plans in uncertainty for almost two decades.
It remains unknown when the proposed legislation could be submitted for parliamentary consideration or whether the government intends to introduce a regulatory framework specifically covering horse racing and associated betting activities.
Minister Hato's response to the allegations that he refused to meet with HICAB representatives was not included in the information provided.