Corruption on Curaçao: The Real Issue Behind the Red Tape
August 26, 2024
Recently, a friend shared a newspaper article from over two decades ago, discussing the large-scale efforts to tackle bureaucratic red tape in Curaçao. My friend questioned what was new, prompting me to remark about the urgent need for large-scale efforts needed to tackle corruption instead. I meant to point out that today's real problem is not so much bureaucratic inefficiencies but rather pervasive corruption.
Someone else chimed in, asking whether corruption was something new for Curaçao. I argued that while corruption may not be a new phenomenon, its current scale is unprecedented, and its economic impact is immense. Corruption has contributed to the downfall of vital sectors, such as the oil industry, which became a crucial pillar of our economy for over a hundred years.
In the 1980s, we had instances like Minister Rutsel Martha addressing corruption with the phrase, "It Takes Two to Tango," acknowledging that both the giver and receiver in corrupt transactions are complicit. In recent years, figures like Fred Wiel have evaluated the integrity of several organizations, and there was a notable campaign aimed at promoting integrity among civil servants. In 2013, Amnesty International released a report highlighting these issues. There has even been a dissertation on corruption, and we have seen an increase in court rulings on this matter.
However, despite these efforts, corruption is not being studied as rigorously as it should be. My consultant friend argues that there is simply no demand for such research. I responded by pointing out that this is precisely the problem. By making it difficult for academic research to thrive in this area, we are losing valuable insights that could help address the issue.
Some argue that we focus too much on isolated corruption cases rather than addressing systemic corruption. However, the sheer number of these cases makes dismissing them as mere incidents impossible. Red tape has always been a symptom, while corruption is the disease.
Without addressing corruption, efforts to cut red tape or streamline bureaucratic processes will have limited success. The root of the problem must be tackled directly; otherwise, we risk perpetuating a system where inefficiency and corruption go hand in hand, ultimately stifling our economic growth and development.
For Curaçao to move forward, we need to acknowledge the extent of the corruption problem and take concrete steps to combat it. This involves not just focusing on individual cases but understanding and addressing the systemic issues that allow corruption to thrive in the first place. Only then can we hope to create a more transparent, efficient, and prosperous future for everyone on the island.
Miguel Goede
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