Dear Editor,
MP Ardwell Irion has been loud about budget delays and government spending without an approved budget. Accountability is crucial, but his own history as Finance Minister contradicts the very claims he now makes. The same late budgets he now condemns? They happened under his leadership. The same unapproved spending he calls unconstitutional? Sounds too familiar.
He accuses the government of illegally spending public funds on events like Soul Beach, Carnival, and consultancy contracts without proper approval. He also claims the 2025 budget remains unpublished and flawed, citing errors in Nota 3. At the same time, he criticizes unpaid justice workers and civil servants, calling it selective enforcement of budget rules.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane because not all of us suffer from selective amnesia.
Under Irion’s leadership, not a single budget was on time. The 2021 budget, due in September 2020, didn’t reach Parliament until mid-2021 and wasn’t passed until September – nine months late. The 2022 budget? Also late, despite his promises. By 2023, the pattern continued, with St. Maarten repeatedly missing deadlines, forcing the Kingdom Council to step in and extend the approval process. Now, MP Irion speaks with authority on budget delays, as if he weren’t one of the main offenders himself.
At the same time, his government was spending without an approved budget. Because his budgets were always late, the government had to operate for months without an approved financial plan, relying on interim measures to keep functioning, the very thing he’s now criticizing.
In 2020, the General Audit Chamber found unauthorized expenses, meaning money was spent without budgetary approval under Irion’s watch. The same thing happened in 2021, his government spent public funds for over eight months with no adopted budget before rushing a late approval. He’s acting as if this is some unprecedented crisis, despite having played a key role in creating the same problem.
Ironically, back in 2019, when Irion was in opposition, he supported a no-confidence motion against then Finance Minister Perry Geerlings – one of the key reasons? Late budgets. However in 2021, when Irion’s own budget was nine months late, there was no no-confidence motion against himself. Where was that same energy?
MP Sarah Wescot-Williams summed up the hypocrisy best in 2022 when she called him out: “The minister confidently stated that the draft 2022 budget would reach Parliament by September 1. [But] during the opening of the parliamentary year, we learned … the 2022 budget will reach Parliament in November. No further explanation was given as to this delay. In politics, what you say can come back to haunt you.” And now, here we are, it’s haunting him.
Beyond budget delays, MP Irion is now warning that the government has “no money” for essential services. He’s not wrong that St. Maarten faces economic struggles but here’s the thing: those problems didn’t appear overnight.
Under Irion, St. Maarten ran massive budget deficits every year. The 2021 draft budget projected a NAf. 228 million shortfall, covered by Dutch loans and wishful thinking. The General Audit Chamber repeatedly flagged mismanagement, and the government’s own internal auditor (SOAB) found serious compliance failures.
By the end of 2021, even Irion himself admitted, “The country does not have any buffer.” St. Maarten was operating month to month with no reserves, a dangerous financial position. Meanwhile, critical reforms to fix tax collection, reduce costs, and stabilize public finances were delayed under his leadership. The Committee for Financial Supervision (CFT) warned that failure to act would lead to an untenable situation for Sint Maarten’s finances. MP Irion had the power to fix these issues but he didn’t.
Focus on real issues, not political games.
MP Irion has all this energy for a budget delay, but where is his energy for the real issues crippling St. Maarten? The skyrocketing cost of living, lack of access to international financial markets, and economic stagnation to name a few. His complaints about delays and reckless spending might sound convincing until you look at his own track record as Minister of Finance. A classic case of the pot calling the kettle black!
If MP Irion truly cares about fixing St. Maarten’s financial struggles, he should start by owning up to his own failures, not playing political games. Instead of recycling old political drama, let's push for real solutions: timely budgets, financial discipline, and economic reforms.
Until then, let’s take his budget criticisms with a grain of salt.
Angelique Remy-Chittick
Financial Strategist and Consultant – Financial.ish
Dear Editor,
In 2016, my family faced one of the toughest challenges of our lives when one of us was diagnosed with cancer. After a long and difficult battle, recovery came, and with it, the hope of moving forward. But just as we began to rebuild our lives, Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, changing everything once again.
Our home on French St. Martin was destroyed. We lost nearly everything – over 70% of our belongings gone in a single night. With nowhere else to turn, my wife, our two daughters, and I relocated to Dutch St. Maarten, where we spent the next three years slowly rebuilding from scratch. Like so many other families on the island, we were left with nothing but each other and the determination to start over.
During that time, gathered around the kitchen table, we realized that rebuilding couldn’t just be about fixing what was lost. We needed to build something better – something that would help protect the island and its people from the growing risks of climate change, waste, and future storms. That’s when my family and I created Green Dream Projects.
In 2018, Green Dream Projects made its first appearance at the MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education (MAC-CSE) on World Environmental Day June 2018. There, students presented innovative ideas focused on sustainability, recycling, and protecting the environment. The energy and creativity they brought to the table confirmed that change begins with the next generation.
With the strong support of the MAC school community and the leadership of Ms. Rose Hughes-Coram, Green Dream Projects continued to grow. Later that same year, we expanded our work across the border through the Eco-Friendly Upcycling Festival on French St. Martin, building partnerships and encouraging cross-border cooperation in sustainability. During this time, my family and I had the honor of meeting with the Sous-Préfet of France, who recognized our efforts and encouraged the ongoing development of our work.
Just as we began to find momentum, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in 2020. The shutdowns and restrictions created new difficulties for the island, but even in those uncertain times, Green Dream Projects stayed active, finding ways to support schools, families, and community initiatives focused on sustainability.
Today, as President of Green Dream Projects, I continue to work alongside my family to keep our mission moving forward. We are committed to creating a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient island by focusing on education, waste reduction, upcycling, and youth engagement across both Dutch and French St. Maarten.
Our story is one of survival – through cancer, a catastrophic hurricane, and a global pandemic. But through those hardships, Green Dream Projects was born, turning personal struggles into a community-wide vision for a better future.
What began around our kitchen table has become an island movement focused on lasting change. And we know this is only the beginning.
Claude Javois
President Green Dream Projects
Dear Editor,
I always appreciate the feedback from Russell A. Simmons whenever he feels the need to comment on any of my articles that I’ve submitted in the opinion section of The Daily Herald. In this particular instance, his reaction on Thursday, February 27, 2025, stemmed from my article that was printed the day before. His viewpoint has prompted me to extend my thoughts; some of which will align fully with his inspections, while a few may differ, just slightly.
From the onset, he stated that persons who criticized the Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication for not providing a race track for the bikers must arrange a meeting with the police and other stakeholders in order to discuss the consequences of their behaviour. I’m sorry that I missed his article with the recommendations that pertain to this pressing matter.
I’m in total agreement with his elucidations regarding the proper upbringing of children. Yes, children model what they see, although some adults deny this fact. It is quite alarming to see how so many households are being managed by one parent, whether the situation occurred because of death or complete negligence of sperm donors, who continue to get away because government has accepted their behaviour.
It is shameful and darn right appalling to know that government rather compensates the mothers with a monthly stipend, while fathers get away scot-free. This is the major breakdown of the family and the collapse of society. When a government refuses to hold fathers responsible for their role in the upbringing of children, then how does it expect to nurture and produce a dynamic and progressive society where its children can only aspire to achieve excellence?
It’s time that government devises a system to hold fathers responsible for the raising of their children, not just financially, but socially and emotionally as well. Here is where the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Education and Social Affairs need to collaborate, to change the direction of the society. Mothers should not be relying solely on government for child support, while the fathers are healthy and working.
Having said that, I am in partial agreement with his view that the behaviour of our youth stems from the lack of biblical knowledge. Yes, Proverbs 1:7 states that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” Psalm 110:10 and a few other books echo the same sentiment, with relation to establishing the foundation for acquiring wisdom.
I do not object to biblical teachings in schools. I just don’t believe that its absence has led to the irresponsible behaviour of our youth. I truly believe that the foundation of any behaviour is engraved in the home environment. Case in point: Who are the very first teachers? The parents, of course. I see children and adults use profanity directly at or in the presence of their parents, and for the life of me, it is frightening.
I would rather run away before I be disrespectful to my parents. Where did I learn that behaviour? At home, of course, because respect for people and property was demonstrated to me and my siblings. I first learned about the bible at home, so it’s not necessarily true that the absence of the bible in school causes the unacceptable behaviour of the youth. My understanding is that schools or any other organization are there to build on the foundation that was established at home.
Yes, as you rightfully said, spare the rod and spoil the child would lead to some of the unwanted behaviours of our youngsters. This sparing of the rod boils down to the proper discipline not being instilled, as stated from the very beginning, which does not have to include spanking. I was chastised, yes; but licks was never a part of my upbringing at home.
To wrap up, he touched on the importance of going to church and Sunday school. Yes, Sunday school is vital. It is the place where children learn a great deal about the bible. But for me, the church has lost its significance in society, simply because most preachers are not teaching God’s word anymore. Instead, they are accommodating the desires of their congregation.
To be continued, as space won’t allow me to elaborate.
Joslyn Morton
By Roland O.B. van den Bergh
Globally, economies are influenced by geopolitical developments, wars, and the looming threat of a trade war. The potential consequences for small islands like Curaçao, Aruba, or Sint Maarten remain unclear, but for now, it appears that 2025 will not be significantly affected by these global challenges. As a result, a moderate economic growth rate is expected in 2025.
By 2024, the economic contraction caused by COVID-19 was fully neutralized, and Curaçao returned to pre-pandemic levels. Recovery on Curaçao took longer than on Aruba and Sint Maarten, primarily due to the significantly larger and faster recovering tourism sectors on these islands compared to others.
The relatively high real growth rate of 5.4 percent for Curaçao’s economy in 2024 was largely due to the recovery from the pandemic, as well as growth in the construction and tourism sectors. Tourism, along with the construction of second homes for foreigners, has seen tremendous growth.
While exact data is lacking, it seems that Curaçao is growing more strongly in this regard than Aruba, Sint Maarten, and many other Caribbean islands. However, this growth could have been even higher had there been sufficient construction capacity and labor in both the construction and tourism industries. This structural labor shortage limits the economic growth forecast for 2025, which is expected to be around 3.2 percent.
Tourism-Based Economy
In 2025, Curaçao is expected to further develop as a “one pillar economy” reliant on tourism. The once dominant sectors – refining, international financial services, and logistics – will likely continue to decline.
However, niches could emerge, allowing specific economic activities to develop on a smaller scale. These could include the creative sector, IT services, international education, maritime services, and the energy transition.
The potential contributions of the gaming sector, developments around 2Bays, the refinery owner, Bullenbaai, and the possibility of an offshore wind farm focused on hydrogen production remain uncertain and will vary in their impact on economic growth in 2025 and the following years.
The economic indicators presented by the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) show a positive picture, though growth rates are expected to level off compared to 2024. Inflation is expected to decrease from 3.1 percent in 2024 to 2.5 percent in 2025. Unemployment is projected to decrease by 0.2 percent to 10.9 percent in 2025.
However, unemployment will remain structurally high, despite severe labor shortages in the construction, tourism, and related economic sectors. This is primarily due to issues with labor qualifications, work ethic, and the physical and mental condition of the unemployed.
The government’s finances are expected to show a surplus of 1.5 percent in 2025, despite higher spending, based on current policy plans. It’s noted that additional public investments in “good” public projects could have a significant impact on economic growth.
Growth and Its Distribution
Economic growth offers some room for the government and the private sector to implement structural improvements in social and societal areas. This is a hopeful prospect, but only if the additional income and profits benefit the entire population, not just the “happy few.” Discussions around social security, such as the 12-year freeze on AOV indexing, the structure of healthcare, the quality and output of education, the approach to aging, poverty reduction, and more, must translate into concrete policy with clear "roadmaps" for allocating additional resources.
Gifts for the “happy few,” such as tax holidays and the cancellation of tax debts, lead to a society where some on Curaçao are “more equal” than others. The customs department reported that exemptions from import duties and sales tax (part of the tax holiday facility for the “happy few”) cause the government to lose approximately NAf. 100 million annually, not including millions in lost corporate tax revenues.
Part of the increased government revenue should be used to create funds to address future emergencies. These funds should also be allocated to the energy transition and to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Building reserves for difficult times and major challenges has been a recommendation from the IMF for many years. The alternative is continued dependence on the Kingdom partner, the Netherlands, as seen during the pandemic.
The Rich Get Richer?
Within the business sector, salary disparities between top management, highly skilled professionals, and low-wage earners should be reduced. The BES islands have set the tone by significantly increasing the minimum wage. Large salary disparities are also evident in the healthcare sector and between public and private sector employees performing the same work.
The margins that some companies and entrepreneurs apply to their products and services contribute to the difficulty many people on the island face in making ends meet. Examples include financial and business services, housing rents, home purchases, food, auto parts, and construction materials. Corporate responsibility in these areas is often lacking.
For 2025, the key question remains: how will economic growth be distributed?
~ Roland O.B. van den Bergh is an economist and researcher. This article is written in a personal capacity. Data used is from the Economic Bulletin of December 2024 by the CBCS. ~
By Stanley Bodok
Recent developments surrounding the availability of ophthalmic care, issues with the new hospital, and the ongoing flu outbreak have heightened public awareness of health and healthcare concerns. I have frequently heard complaints from my acquaintances about the accessibility of general practitioners and the quality of care. Some of these complaints are deeply concerning, even alarming.
A strong, independent inspection body is crucial for both citizens and healthcare providers. Healthcare professionals and institutions value providing ethical and high-quality care to others. They benefit from having misconduct by other providers, which harms patients and erodes trust in healthcare, being exposed.
The website of the Health Inspection lists the many laws relevant to citizens’ health. Given the complexity of the matter, it is essential for citizens to rely on a website from the Inspectorate that provides answers to their numerous questions and doubts. The website should inform the public about the effectiveness of the inspection, the promotion of responsible healthcare, and the handling of complaints.
The latest updates on the Curaçao Health Inspection website date back to 2019, six years ago. None of the previously mentioned issues are addressed, nor is there any indication of how these matters are being tackled. The website only sporadically reports on cases handled by the disciplinary board.
I used the email address listed on the website to pose questions. My repeated requests, including phone calls, for even an acknowledgment of receipt, have gone unanswered. This unavailability and lack of transparency from the Inspectorate align with the complaints I have received.
The Inspector-General for Health holds a strong and independent position. Given the state of the website, it appears that the Inspectorate is failing the public precisely when its support is most needed. If the Health Inspection does not properly carry out its duties, this could have serious consequences for the health and well-being of the population.
On February 20, 2025, a local newspaper published an article about the suspension of a Curaçao surgeon. The timeline of the process indicates that it concerns a relatively old case. The patient’s original complaint dates back to 2014, and the decision from the Medical Disciplinary Board was made on May 14, 2020.
I hope the affected patient has been able to experience the recent appeal verdict. The appellate decision may suggest that many cases remain uncovered. It is important for citizens to continue voicing their concerns and apply pressure on the authorities to improve the situation.
Citizens can, among other things, request an update to the website and encourage an open dialogue between the Inspectorate and the public on matters that urgently require effective oversight. They can also express their opinions through the press and social media. It is a social and moral duty to contribute to the maintenance of our vital institutions.
~ Stanley Bodok is a Curaçao citizen, graduate of the British College of Journalism, and freelance writer and journalist with a special focus on governance and healthcare. After completing his studies in business administration and healthcare management, he worked for over 30 years in the government and healthcare sectors of Curaçao. He has also supported various Curaçao civil organizations as a volunteer. ~
