The Committee for Financial Supervision CFT is in hot water (see related story), after writing to Minister of Finance Charles Cooper that it had “understood an investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office is ongoing into the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).” The comment was made in response to the Dutch Caribbean country’s third execution report of 2025 showing higher-than-budgeted income from online gambling licences issued under the new National Ordinance Games of Chance LOK.
Both CGA and Cooper have since reacted strongly. CFT meanwhile sent a second note to the minister acknowledging that unconfirmed information based on media reports should not be included in official correspondence. It pledged to refrain from such in the future and republished the original letter without the contested passage.
In today’s digital world, where rumours are easily spread, this should be lesson for not just CFT but everyone. Repeating unchecked hearsay can get you and others in serious trouble.
That does not mean there is no probe and considering that the entire board of what was formerly known as the Gaming Control Board (GCB), CFT’s concern is understandable. However, especially supervisory entities should be extra careful because of their authority.
St. Maarten President of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams stated in last Friday/Saturday’s edition of the newspaper that she will continue to push for a review of CFT’s role “to evolve it toward a balanced financial-economic advisory body” as part of her policy priorities for the year ahead. The recent controversy in Willemstad is probably a good example of what not to do.
True integrity also entails sticking to the facts.
