WILLEMSTAD – The Board of Financial Supervision for Curaçao and Sint Maarten (Cft) has formally responded to Minister of Finance Charles Cooper following his objections to public remarks made by the Cft regarding an alleged investigation into the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).
In a letter dated December 3, 2025, Cft Chairperson Drs. L.M.C. Ongering acknowledges that the Cft should have referred only to investigations confirmed through official channels. Minister Cooper had informed the Cft that both he and the Minister of Justice were assured by the CGA that no such investigation by the Public Prosecutor’s Office is underway.
“The Cft thanks you for this clarity,” the letter states. “In retrospect, we agree that it would have been better for the Cft to refer only to investigations confirmed by official channels. We will ensure this is the case going forward.”
The Cft has since revised its response to the third Implementation Report for 2025 and forwarded the corrected version to the minister.
Integrity Issues Still Part of Cft’s Mandate
Despite adjusting its earlier public statement, the Cft emphasizes that matters of integrity fall squarely within its supervisory framework—particularly when they may affect public finances or the quality of financial management.
“Integrity and sound financial management are inseparably linked,” the letter notes, referencing Article 86 of the Constitution of Curaçao, which mandates rules to safeguard government integrity and the soundness of financial administration.
The Cft expresses confidence that the clarification resolves the minister’s concerns and states that it considers the matter closed.
This exchange follows heightened public scrutiny surrounding the CGA, after concerns surfaced about transparency within the gaming sector and its financial contribution to government revenues.