WILLEMSTAD – After a turbulent period marked by allegations of financial irregularities and governance failures, Curaçao's tourist police foundation, Stichting Materieel & Operationeel Beheer Politur, closed 2025 with its strongest financial position since its establishment, according to the organization's audited annual accounts.
The figures paint a picture of an organization that not only stabilized its finances but also made significant investments in equipment, vehicles and operational infrastructure while ending the year with a healthy cash position and a substantial surplus.
The results stand in sharp contrast to the image that emerged from investigations into the previous administration, illustrating the scale of the rebuilding effort undertaken during 2025.
Revenue nearly doubles
According to the audited financial statements, Politur generated XCG 2,448,144 in total income during 2025.
The largest source of funding was the Crime Fund, which contributed XCG 1,543,639, representing approximately 63 percent of the organization's total revenue.
The Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB) provided an additional XCG 895,405, while private donations totaled XCG 9,100.
Compared with the previous year, total revenue increased dramatically. In 2024, the organization reported income of approximately XCG 1.29 million. The nearly 90 percent increase reflects the expansion of Politur's operational activities and the restructuring that took place during 2025.
Strong operating surplus
After deducting all operating expenses and depreciation, Politur reported a net surplus of XCG 871,171 for 2025.
That compares with a surplus of XCG 94,403 the previous year.
The result significantly strengthened the organization's financial position.
By the end of 2025, total equity had increased to XCG 887,393, compared with only XCG 29,186 one year earlier.
For a non-profit organization funded largely with public money, the surplus does not represent profit in the commercial sense. Instead, it reflects resources available to support future operations, replace equipment and strengthen the organization's long-term financial sustainability.
Major investment program
One of the most striking aspects of the annual report is the scale of Politur's investments.
During 2025, the organization invested more than XCG 715,000 in new operational assets.
The largest investment involved vehicles, with approximately XCG 472,000 spent on expanding and modernizing the fleet used by tourist police officers.
Additional investments included:
- more than XCG 95,000 in operational equipment;
- nearly XCG 38,500 in computers and software;
- approximately XCG 65,000 in office furniture;
- machinery and installations;
- office fixtures; and
- other operational assets.
These investments increased the book value of Politur's fixed assets from just XCG 52,842 at the end of 2024 to XCG 680,235 one year later.
Healthy liquidity
The annual report also indicates that Politur finished the year with a solid cash position.
As of December 31, 2025, the organization held XCG 267,006 in bank accounts maintained at Maduro & Curiel's Bank and RBC Royal Bank.
Current liabilities totaled approximately XCG 89,995, consisting primarily of taxes payable, rent, accounting fees and other operational obligations.
The figures suggest that Politur ended the year with sufficient liquidity to meet its short-term financial commitments.
Personnel became the largest expense
With the expansion of operations came increased personnel costs.
Staff expenses rose to XCG 705,434, becoming the organization's largest operating expense.
Housing costs totaled nearly XCG 199,000, while operational expenses amounted to XCG 196,084. General administrative expenses reached approximately XCG 190,000.
These figures reflect the transformation of Politur into a significantly larger operational organization compared with previous years.
Financial growth accompanied administrative reform
The financial improvements documented in the annual report correspond with findings contained in an independent operational audit covering much of 2025.
That audit concludes that new financial procedures, monthly payroll reconciliations, invoice approval systems and digital accounting processes were introduced during the year as part of a broader institutional reform effort. Auditors also reported that approximately 95 percent of the financial transactions they examined complied with accepted accounting standards.
Questions remain
Despite the strong financial results, the audit makes clear that Politur's transformation is still a work in progress.
Auditors warn that governance reforms remain incomplete, the organization still lacks full segregation of financial duties because of limited staffing, and a formal cooperation agreement with the Curaçao Tourist Board has yet to be signed.
Those issues will be examined further during the second phase of the audit.
Nevertheless, the audited financial statements show that from a purely financial perspective, 2025 was a year of remarkable growth.
For an organization that entered the year facing questions about governance and administration, the figures suggest that Politur has succeeded in rebuilding not only its internal systems but also its balance sheet.