WILLEMSTAD – The Social and Economic Council (SER) of Curaçao has released an advisory opinion to the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport (OWCS), Sithree “Cey” van Heydoorn, regarding a draft national decree to establish the Curaçao Sports Fund.
The proposed decree outlines how public funds for sports will be collected, distributed and accounted for. The fund is intended to support sports development at all levels — from community programs to elite competition — while reinforcing government policy goals in public health, social cohesion and talent development. It sets out the fund’s objectives, the conditions under which organizations may apply and the procedures for evaluating and reporting on supported projects.
In its advisory, the SER evaluates the draft along legal, financial and socioeconomic lines. Legally, the council assesses whether the proposed rules align with the Sports Fund Ordinance (P.B. 2021, no. 120) and Curaçao’s broader regulatory framework. On the financial side, the SER examines the proposed revenue sources, including gaming proceeds and existing sports allocations, and questions the long-term stability of these income streams. It also highlights risks such as the accumulation of unused balances and the potential for double financing.
From a socioeconomic perspective, the SER considers how the Sports Fund could contribute to better public health, community participation and higher productivity in an aging society facing rising healthcare costs.
The SER does not advise for or against adopting the fund in its current form. Instead, it raises crucial questions the government must address regarding legality, medium-term fiscal sustainability and the measurable public benefits of the proposed fund as it decides on the next steps.