CURACAO 2017-2021 PARLIAMENTARIANS OF SVC-08 ARE FAILING TO BE THE DOGCATCHERS AND OVERWATCHERS OF THE GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE BRANCH?
Willemstad, Curacao. In an interview on December 8th 2020, Curacao independent Parliamentarian in the opposition in SVC-08; who used to represent the political party PIN in the coalition PAR-MAN-PIN; Mr. Rennox Calmes, expressed that there is not much trust in the governments budget 2014 to 2018: (1.) 2014/2015; (2.) 2015/2016; (3.) 2016/2017; (4.) 2017/2018, which were also submitted late and had some overspending, more than over 100 million US Dollars (USD). According to the parliamentarian, the government cannot celebrate when submitting the budget accounts late and incorrectly. In Curacao, in the legal route of democracy, it is the job of parliament to ensure transparency and accountability with the countries purse.
NO TRUST IN THE BUDGET
Rennox expressed; "Last week, parliament treated the annual accounts, 2016, 2017 and 2018. What I do have to say about this for sure, is that it is good for the people to know, the financial "free for all" must end, which is actually taking place. You could have seen how certain members were in jubilee, celebrating, but you can not celebrate when things are not right, if we see, since the year of 2014 coming up, when is about the trust and the legality (rechtmatigheid), for sure it is two (2) parts that weight very much. And in these, since 2014 to 2018 it is disapproved (afgekeurd)! And now it will become worst, for what is about 2017 and 2018, the accountant, in this case it is the SOAB (Curacao Financial Service Accountant) (in Dutch: Stichting Overheidsaccountantsbureau) and the General Controler (Kontraloria General), distanced themselves completely from the content of 2017 and 2018. They are basing themselves on two (2) points. The first point is, basically, the budget law was not accordingly followed, the money's were not taking out according to the budget law. And the second (2nd) point is that, the rules to deal with subsidies was not follow accordingly! And that trust means that, there is no trust in the information that the government submitted. And as strange as it may be, I saw that people were celebrating that they (budgets) were submitted. Submitting them is one thing; but if they are correct, if they comply with our laws it is a different point."
PARLIAMENT ROLE TO A CORRUPTED BUDGET QUESTION #1
One of the questions asked of calmes- Reporter: "A lot of people would ask in this case, yes, but you are the one in parliament to control the government, in this case, rightly to control the budget. Obviously we know that you was not there from the beginning, but, since 2017 you were there. So, in this case, what is the role of parliament in this case, what parliamentarian could have done towards these cases then?"
RESPONSE #1
Calmes: "Look, I believe that parliament must start putting people accountable, it is true in 2017; I formed part of the PAR-MAN-PIN coalition government and I am in parliament untill now. We dealt with 2017 and 2018. I want for people to know very clear, the annual parts of these accounts, there is where the people need to look at what the government did. There is where the people can see if the money's that were put in the budget were used to do what needed to be done. If it was used 200 guilders was allocated for education, then 200 guilders needed to be used, or at least explain on what other it was used. In these annual accounts, that is the problem! That the government comes very late, with budget 2017, 2018, now in 2020? How can it be controlled if the government did comply as they should have comply? That is why I say, this entire financial matter, this financial "free for all" must stop, by starting to put people responsible because, now the ministers will be leaving, who will hold them accountable? The country will be staying in the situation that it is in. If it was at your house, the money at your house you will not deal with it like this, right?"
IS PARLIAMENT SERIOUS ENOUGH FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ALSO BE SERIOUS?
According to Calmes, there is a lack of seriousness on the part of the government. He stated; "You can see that there is no seriousness, because you can see for sure in the part of subsidies, for sure an amount of 200 and something million guilders, went in subsidies without complying with the rules. Which means that the government is spending much more money compared to what is allocated (loke ta presupuestá). No where in the world, not even at your home, if it is 200 guilders is what you earn, you can not be spending 300 guilders.
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS OF GOVERNMENT COMPANIES
Regarding the government company's annual accounts (NV's) (Limited Liability Company LLC)(in Dutch: Naamloze Vennootschap NV), Calmes stated; "The part of the NV's, we got tired, but we will continue doing our job. Since November, in the month of May 2019, and November 2019, again we sent asking the government to send all the annual accounts from the governments NV's. Untill today, this week and the next week, we will start with the 2020 budget, still we have not gotten these, other companies, like we know there is Curoil and the others. Also we asked for a meeting about the situation on the Central Bank, the situation of the economy, the situation of Giro, also on the refinery. It will be a year that we have not meet (have a meeting in parliament) about the refinery."
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