WILLEMSTAD – Employees at Curaçao's Tax Collector's Office have raised concerns about fear, concentrated authority, and the treatment of staff, according to an SOAB internal audit examining the department's management culture and leadership.
The findings form part of an investigation into an integrity complaint involving the head of the Tax Collector's Office, Alfonso Trona.
The audit, submitted to the Curaçao Parliament by Finance Minister Charles Cooper on October 23, examined whether management practices within the department were consistent with proper administrative controls and professional standards.
The original integrity complaint alleged that employees were reluctant to speak openly about problems within the organization because they feared negative consequences.
It also raised concerns about the concentration of authority and the possibility that employees who questioned decisions could face unfavorable treatment.
SOAB interviewed employees and examined the department's management structure, internal procedures, and decision-making processes.
According to the report, several interviewees expressed concerns about the leadership environment and the handling of internal disagreements.
Some employees indicated that discussing certain matters could have negative consequences, while others referred to difficulties in obtaining information or raising concerns through established channels.
The auditors also found that important management and control instruments existed within the organization but were not always used consistently or effectively.
These included internal meetings, management consultations, and procedures intended to support accountability and transparency.
SOAB observed that the department's management structure gave the head of the organization considerable responsibility for policy implementation, internal controls, and operational oversight.
The report emphasized that such responsibilities must be exercised in a manner that supports transparency, proper delegation, and professional accountability.
Trona did not accept the characterization of the organization as one governed by fear. According to the audit, he maintained that he pursued an open-door policy and that employees could raise concerns individually or in groups.
SOAB's investigation therefore documented competing accounts of the workplace environment rather than establishing every allegation in the original complaint as fact.
Nevertheless, the auditors identified concerns about management culture, the concentration of authority, and the need to strengthen internal governance.
The report also highlighted the importance of management practices that allow employees to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
These findings come alongside other SOAB observations about weaknesses in tax collection procedures, recordkeeping, and the handling of individual taxpayer cases.
The reports have now been provided to Parliament, where lawmakers can examine the findings and determine whether further clarification or action is necessary.