WILLEMSTAD – The government's acquisition of the former Saint Elisabeth Hospital (SEHOS) complex in Otrobanda for XCG 13 million has triggered controversy in the Curaçao Parliament, with opposition members demanding greater transparency about the transaction and questioning statements made by Minister Charles Cooper concerning the bankruptcy trustee responsible for the property's sale.
Members of Parliament Giselle Mc William of MAN-PIN and Sheldry Osepa of the National People's Party (PNP) have called on Cooper to provide further explanations about the purchase and the circumstances surrounding the transaction.
Mc William is particularly concerned about the financial aspects of the acquisition. She wants the minister to disclose additional information about the XCG 13 million purchase price, the property valuations used to justify the transaction and the role played by CMC Vastgoed in the acquisition.
Her questions come amid growing scrutiny of the government's decision to purchase the former hospital complex, particularly because the property was initially acquired by a private buyer for a lower amount.
Osepa, meanwhile, has focused his criticism on Cooper's public statements about the bankruptcy trustee who handled the sale.
During a parliamentary meeting last Monday, Cooper criticized the trustee's handling of the transaction. According to the minister, the government's offer had not been taken seriously, while the trustee chose to proceed with a private party.
Cooper maintained that the government had submitted the best offer for the property.
However, the trustee disputes the minister's account of the transaction.
Osepa argues that if Cooper genuinely believes the trustee acted improperly, the minister should pursue the appropriate legal and professional procedures rather than making serious accusations in Parliament.
According to the PNP parliamentarian, Cooper could have filed a formal complaint with the supervisory judge overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings.
Osepa also pointed to other possible legal avenues, including seeking to hold the trustee personally liable or submitting a disciplinary complaint to the supervisory body responsible for the legal profession.
The parliamentarian considers it unacceptable for a government minister to make accusations that could damage the professional reputation of a local attorney without pursuing the formal procedures available to address alleged misconduct.
The controversy has also drawn attention to the difference between the original purchase price and the amount ultimately paid by the government.
The private buyer initially acquired the property for XCG 10 million. The government subsequently purchased the complex for XCG 13 million, while the original buyer retained ownership of the chapel.
This means the government paid XCG 3 million more than the earlier transaction price, while the chapel was not included in its acquisition.
The difference has prompted questions about the financial justification for the purchase and the circumstances that led to the government acquiring the property through the subsequent transaction.
The former SEHOS complex is expected to play a role in plans to expand healthcare facilities, including the possibility of providing recovery care for patients who no longer require hospitalization at Curaçao Medical Center but are not yet ready to return home.
However, the political debate is increasingly focused on the transparency of the acquisition itself, the valuation of the property and the government's handling of the negotiations.
Mc William and Osepa are seeking clarification from Cooper on different aspects of the transaction, placing additional pressure on the minister to explain both the financial considerations behind the XCG 13 million purchase and his criticism of the bankruptcy trustee.
The dispute remains unresolved, with the minister and the trustee presenting conflicting accounts of how the original sale process unfolded.