WILLEMSTAD - The foundation for elderly care Birgen di Rosario is not entitled to additional subsidy, despite a promise from the Minister of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW). The judge ruled that on Wednesday. Minister Ruthmilda Larmonie-Cecilia must explain the cut on the regular subsidy in more detail.
Birgen di Rosario has requested the minister for a subsidy for the year 2020 in the amount of 9,862,700 guilders. This amount consists of regular and supplementary grants. Larmonie-Cecilia rejected the foundation's request for an additional grant. The regular subsidy has been awarded, but a lower amount than Birgen di Rosario has requested and has been paid out in the past.
The foundation appealed to the court on the principle of trust. The minister previously wrote a letter to Birgen di Rosario that the foundation is entitled to an additional subsidy for the year 2020. The Court ruled that the foundation could assume that the commitment was based on consultation with the Minister of Finance.
However, according to the judge, the general interest of putting and maintaining public finances in order outweighs the interest of the foundation. After Larmonie-Cecilia's promise, agreements were made with the Netherlands about liquidity support. The financial situation of Curaçao has also deteriorated as a result of the corona pandemic.
The judge emphasizes that the minister must reconsider the requested regular subsidy. The lower amount of regular subsidy appears to be based on a cut in the rate per client. According to the judge, that needs to be explained in more detail.