Administrators do not apply good governance

December 03, 2009 11:58 AM

The introduction of the Code Corporate Governance is a step in the right direction, according to the Business Association of Curaçao (VBC), which simultaneously concludes that administrators and parliamentarians themselves insufficiently implement the objectives of this code, namely stimulating the administrative integrity and financial transparency.

The aforementioned supposedly appears from ‘the non- or barely treatment of the researches and findings of the General Audit Authority of the Netherlands Antilles (Arna) by the Board of Governors and the Island Council’. “Time and again the Arna concludes that treatments and practices in the public sector are implemented which are at daggers drawn with principles of good governance, integrity and transparency. Inefficiency and unlawful acts, proliferation and discretion run rampant. In addition, there is often a question of a lacking administrative organization and internal control.”

“However, the conclusions and recommendations of the Arna are massively neglected by the administrators and the Island Council-members. Besides Arna-researches and reports, one could also name the debacles such as the purchase of fire engines, license plates and voting machines, where political responsibility is practically omitted.”

The VBC is of the opinion that one should question whether deprivatizion/decertification (dissolving StiP) should not be considered as a move backwards. “Everything points in the direction that the political authorities are only prepared to consider good governance and (financial) transparency when put under (enormous) pressure. Apparently, political authorities are still not convinced that the pursuance of these objectives benefits the society. Of course, this is regrettable, all the more since political authorities are always talking about asserting the public interest.”
Therefore the appeal to society is to continue exerting pressure. Actions, such as going to court to approach and combat political appointments (amongst others with DROV and Selikor), and consistent criticism on political appointments of commissioners and administrators with governmental nv’s and institutes, demonstrate that this can be successful effectively.

(Source: VBC)

2 December 2009