WILLEMSTAD – Press freedom in Curaçao is coming under increasing pressure due to declining government openness and a growing reliance on official government-controlled communication channels. This warning was issued by civic initiative Kòrsou Transparente in a statement released on International Anti-Corruption Day, observed today, December 9.
According to the organization, a healthy democracy depends on three pillars: an ethical government, engaged citizens, and independent media. It argues that the third pillar is weakening, as government press conferences have become increasingly rare and information is more often disseminated through official press releases, videos, and podcasts produced by the government itself. This trend, Kòrsou Transparente says, limits journalists’ access to critical information and reduces opportunities for scrutiny.
Gambling Sector as Key Example
Kòrsou Transparente pointed to recent developments surrounding the Curaçao Gaming Authority as an example of this troubling pattern. A decision by the Council of Ministers to transfer oversight of the gaming sector from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice reportedly remained largely undisclosed for weeks.
Only after a local newspaper discovered that the entire Supervisory Board of the Gaming Authority had resigned—and confirmed this through the Commercial Register—did an official government response follow. Similarly, in the case of former Minister Javier Silvania’s resignation, the organization notes that clarification came late and without a public press conference.
Long-Standing Vulnerabilities
The civic initiative also referenced a 2013 study by Transparency International, which already identified structural vulnerabilities within the media sector. Despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom, the organization says several key safeguards remain absent, including transparency regarding media ownership, a professional journalists’ association, and protections for editorial independence.
International Context
Kòrsou Transparente placed Curaçao’s situation within a broader international context, referencing recent restrictions affecting press agencies in the United States. According to the organization, these developments highlight that press freedom—even in small, established democracies—must be actively and continuously defended.
The group concludes that transparency, open access to information, and an independent press are essential to preventing corruption and maintaining democratic accountability in Curaçao.