WILLEMSTAD – In response to the recently published report by the General Audit Chamber of Curaçao (ARC) on the effectiveness of economic permits, the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) has issued a detailed clarification, emphasizing that recent changes to the policy on hospitality licenses represent a conscious and necessary shift toward transparency, legal certainty, and enforceability.
While the ARC rightly points out that the licensing process—particularly for hospitality businesses—has faced structural bottlenecks for many years, MEO stresses that the policy adjustment introduced in May 2025 was not intended to bypass legal requirements. On the contrary, the change was designed to put an end to an unsustainable tolerance policy under which many establishments operated for years without any formal permit.
According to the ministry, MEO had long been forced to function in a context where essential advice from chain partners such as the Fire Department and the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN) was repeatedly delayed or unavailable. As a result, hospitality venues continued operating without proper authorization, a situation that the ARC itself has deemed undesirable and untenable.
Minister of Economic Development Ruisandro Middelhof stated that failing to act would have meant prolonging a tolerance policy that left entrepreneurs in prolonged legal uncertainty. Instead, the ministry opted for a course that provides business owners with a formal decision clearly outlining the conditions they must meet. These conditions—including obtaining a Fire Department occupancy permit and a hygiene-related permit under the National Commodities Ordinance administered by GMN—remain fully applicable.
Responsibility for issuing and enforcing these sector-specific permits lies, by law, with the relevant authorities. The hospitality license issued by MEO does not override those responsibilities but does provide the government with a practical framework for ex post supervision and enforcement.
Middelhof also pointed to repeated but unsuccessful attempts to strengthen interdepartmental cooperation. He noted that MEO formally requested the Public Health Inspectorate to train Economic Inspection staff so they could assist with inspections under the National Commodities Ordinance, a GMN mandate. To date, no substantive response has been received. At the same time, it is widely acknowledged that GMN lacks sufficient capacity to conduct routine hygiene inspections, making effective collaboration more urgent than ever.
The minister emphasized that such efforts should not be interpreted as overstepping institutional boundaries, but rather as proactive attempts to safeguard the public interest.
The policy shift is part of a broader reform and digitalization agenda aimed at modernizing Curaçao’s permit system. Middelhof reiterated his vision of a licensing process that is simple, transparent, and fully digital, accessible via computer or mobile phone, without unnecessary delays or in-person visits.
This vision is now being realized through the “Be Formal” digitalization initiative, launched under Middelhof’s direct leadership. The platform is intended to mark a fundamental cultural shift within government, reducing bureaucracy, shortening processing times, and placing citizens and entrepreneurs at the center of public service delivery.
According to MEO, the era in which applicants waited months or even years for a permit is coming to an end. The Be Formal platform, which will soon be officially launched as Curaçao’s central digital portal for economic permits, is presented as a cornerstone of a modern, efficient, and service-oriented government.
Middelhof also announced that work will resume in the near future on updating the Permit Ordinance to ensure a clear, modern division of responsibilities among government bodies and to facilitate more effective coordination.
“Where others hesitate, MEO chooses to act,” the ministry stated, stressing that the approach is transparent, legally grounded, and firmly aligned with the public interest.