WILLEMSTAD - The Social Insurance Bank SVB must reduce its operating costs by 23%. That was demanded by the Minister of Finance Javier Silvania. The Minister of Finance took that decision after the annual report of the SVB showed a loss of almost 54 million guilders in 2020.
Government accountant SOAB will carry out an operational audit, based on which more cutbacks will follow.
Silvania reacts on social media to the SVB, which, according to him, pays an exorbitant salary to its director, but takes the money away from poor people.
Silvania further writes that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has communicated in writing to Undersecretary Raymond Knops of the Interior and Kingdom Relations the management measures to reduce the national contribution to the reserve fund. “We have to cut where there is fat,” Silvania said. “Our heart beats for Curaçao.”
The minister also questions SVB's policy. For example, the minister says: “Imagine yourself. Experts have come up with the idea of taking the Christmas bonus for retirees from SVB in order to reduce costs. The Pisas cabinet has said 'no way'. Let SVB start reducing its operational costs.”
“Imagine yourself. Experts have come up with the idea of increasing the premium for social insurance. The Pisas cabinet has said 'no way'. Let SBAB start checking the companies with illegal employees who don't pay contributions.”
“Imagine yourself. Experts have come up with the idea of reducing the AWW (General Widow Fund) benefit by 10 percent. The Pisas cabinet has said 'no way'. A widow receives 400 guilders from SVB. Nothing can be taken from that. Our heart beats for Curaçao.”
The minister later discussed the salary of the SVB director in yet another post. The Minister of Finance earns 8,000 guilders a month. The director of SVB 100,000 guilders per month. In order to cut spending, SVB does not want to pay out a Christmas bonus to pensioners. Do you think that's fair?”