The 2025 Annual Report of the Ombudsman of Curaçao should be required reading for every minister, member of Parliament and senior civil servant. Not because it is a political document, but because it serves as a mirror reflecting the quality of our public administration.
The figures speak for themselves. In 2025, the Ombudsman handled 1,340 requests, a significant increase compared to the 958 requests recorded in 2024. This can partly be explained by the fact that citizens are becoming more familiar with the Ombudsman and know better how to reach the institution. At the same time, however, it is also a signal that many people feel insufficiently heard by the government.
Anyone who reads the report will notice that the problem is rarely complicated legislation. The recurring theme is much simpler and, at the same time, much more serious: citizens do not receive answers, must wait months or even years for decisions, or receive no clear explanation from government authorities. These are not isolated incidents, but recurring patterns.
A government is not judged solely by its policies, but especially by its behavior. Citizens do not expect perfection. They expect government to be accessible, to respond to letters, to explain decisions and to honor commitments. When this does not happen, frustration grows. When it happens structurally, trust disappears.
Particularly concerning is the Ombudsman’s observation that the interests of children are still not sufficiently placed at the center of decision-making in practice, despite existing legal protections. Good legislation alone is therefore not enough. Ultimately, implementation determines whether rights have real meaning.
It is also striking that several recommendations from the Ombudsman had still not received a response from the responsible ministers by the end of 2025. This raises an uncomfortable question: how seriously does the government take its own independent watchdog? An Ombudsman can issue recommendations, but when government bodies fail to respond or only do so much later, oversight loses its effectiveness.
For that reason, the proposal to introduce legally established response deadlines is an important step toward further strengthening the rule of law.
The report also contains a recommendation that has been relevant for years: the creation of an accessible legal assistance desk. Many problems can be resolved at an early stage if citizens receive timely information and guidance. This not only prevents lengthy procedures but also strengthens confidence in government.
The true value of the annual report, however, is not found in the statistics or individual cases. Its greatest importance is that it demonstrates that good governance is not an abstract legal concept. It is about respect for citizens. About responding on time. About acting carefully. About taking responsibility.
A democratic rule of law is not measured only by the quality of its laws, but primarily by the way those laws are implemented every day.
The Ombudsman’s 2025 Annual Report is therefore more than a review of the past year. It is a warning. But above all, it is an invitation to politics and government to place citizens at the center again.
That should not be an ambition for the future. It should be the standard.
drs. Luigi A. Faneyte MSc. CFE CICA CCS
Politician | Economist | Financial Expert | Consultant | Auditor | Analyst | Researcher | Lecturer
Former Auditor of the Court of Audit
Parliamentary staff member of the PAR faction in the Curaçao Parliament