WILLEMSTAD — The General Audit Chamber Curaçao (ARC) has concluded that the Government Accountants Bureau (SOAB) was unlawfully engaged in the relocation of the Executive Organization for Medical and Health Affairs (G&Gz) and the new Kraamkliniek Colon maternity clinic.
According to the Audit Chamber, SOAB was assigned tasks that fall outside its statutory mandate as an internal government audit body and were carried out in violation of applicable financial management and public procurement rules.
Tasks outside legal mandate
The ARC states that SOAB was tasked by the government with managing public funds and performing supporting activities such as project monitoring and capacity strengthening. The government justified this approach by citing insufficient execution capacity within the public administration.
The Audit Chamber firmly rejects that argument, stating that a lack of internal capacity can never justify bypassing statutory requirements. “Capacity shortages do not exempt the government from complying with financial and procurement legislation,” the ARC emphasized.
Procurement rules ignored
Legal analysis conducted as part of the audit found that the assignments given to SOAB do not fall within the foundation’s statutory objectives. Moreover, the ARC concluded that these financial and project-related tasks should have been awarded through a formal procurement process involving multiple bids, as required under Curaçao’s public procurement rules.
The Audit Chamber also dismissed claims that similar arrangements had been used by previous governments. “The fact that comparable constructions may have been applied in the past does not make this course of action acceptable,” the ARC stated. “Projects may not be executed outside the law, and compliance with financial and procurement regulations remains essential at all times.”
Broader governance concerns
The findings add to growing concerns about governance, legality, and execution practices within the Curaçao government, particularly in complex infrastructure and healthcare-related projects. The ARC’s conclusions underline the risks associated with using support institutions beyond their legal scope and reinforce calls for stricter adherence to public finance and procurement laws.
The Audit Chamber has urged the government to ensure that future projects are carried out strictly within the legal framework, with clear mandates, proper procurement procedures, and full accountability.