WILLEMSTAD – One of the most striking findings in a government audit concerns the handling of a NAf. 985,000 subsidy intended for a sports project in Barber, which was never completed as planned.
The funds, allocated to Centro Social y Deportivo Barber (CSDB), were originally intended for the installation of artificial turf on a sports field to promote athletic development in the community. However, the audit reveals that the project was never realized.
Instead, a significant portion of the funds was spent on other purposes, including operational costs, lighting infrastructure, and fencing. The organization also altered the intended use of the subsidy without prior approval from the Council of Ministers.
Compounding the issue, the audit found that NAf. 272,752 of the total amount could not be substantiated with supporting documentation such as invoices. Additionally, the required financial statements and independent audit reports were missing, in violation of subsidy regulations.
Despite these irregularities, the government later approved the changes retroactively. In 2019, the Council of Ministers formally accepted the altered use of the funds, effectively legitimizing expenditures that were initially deemed improper.
The Algemene Rekenkamer sharply criticizes this decision, noting that it does not change the fact that the original objective of the subsidy was not achieved. The artificial turf field—central to the project—was never installed.
The report argues that this retroactive approval undermines principles of good governance and accountability, as it allows non-compliance to be corrected after the fact rather than addressed through enforcement.
The audit recommends that Parliament hold the responsible ministries accountable and consider requiring repayment of funds that cannot be properly justified.