GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES

Opposing views on political influence Few people would argue that the rules issued by the state (government) must also be correctly and strictly observed by that same state. It cannot be well conceived that, for example, the police and Public Prosecutor’s Office (as instruments of the state) should be allowed to violate the law with… Continue reading GOVERNMENT-OWNED COMPANIES

THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

Incorporating an NV or BV is not a hassle The act on corporate law (Book 2 Curaçao Civil Code) governs the NV (‘public limited liability company’) and BV (‘private limited liability company’). These companies can be used for group finance or holding activities, (international) joint-ventures, funds, structured finance, as a Curaçao Trust and for “plain-vanilla”… Continue reading THE INCORPORATION OF A CURACAO LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

ORDER OF THE COMMON APPEAL COURT OF CURACAO CONCERNING THE RIGHT TO INSTITUTE AN INQUIRY

The Appeal Court has taken several fundamental decisions On 5 March 2013 the Common Court of Justice of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (case: Ghis 55769 – HAR 28/12) issued an order in connection with inquiry proceedings. This order contains three major considerations. The right of legal entities (including… Continue reading ORDER OF THE COMMON APPEAL COURT OF CURACAO CONCERNING THE RIGHT TO INSTITUTE AN INQUIRY

BESCHIKKING INZAKE ENQUETERECHT GEMEENSCHAPPELIJK HOF CURACAO

Het Hof neemt enkele principiële beslissingen Op 5 maart 2013 heeft het Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie van Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten en van Bonaire, Sint Eustatius en Saba (zaak: Ghis 55769 – HAR 28/12) een beschikking in het kader van een enquêteprocedure gegeven. Drie belangrijke overwegingen worden hier genoemd. Het enquêterecht voor rechtspersonen (waaronder naamloze… Continue reading BESCHIKKING INZAKE ENQUETERECHT GEMEENSCHAPPELIJK HOF CURACAO

LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Looking back on the future: the further development of corporate governance in Curaçao A seminar on Checks and Balances in Corporate Governance on Curacao, was held on Thursday February 21st, 2013. More than 125 interested managing directors, supervisory directors, lawyers, accountants and other participants were in attendance. The seminar was organized by the Board of… Continue reading LECTURE ON GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (V)

Government drafted model articles of association The first model articles of association date from March 15, 2011. For criticism see: K. Frielink, Visie Land op overheids-NV’s verkeerd [Vision Country on government-owned NVs incorrect], Antilliaans Dagblad 15 April 2011, p. 16 and M.L. Alexander, F.B.M. Kunneman, L.G. Santine and R.J. in ’t Veld, Modelstatuten ten sterkste… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (V)

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (IV)

Code Corporate Governance Curacao On January 1, 2010, the National Ordinance regarding corporate governance came into effect. Based on this the Code Corporate Governance Curacao came into being, that also came into effect on January 1, 2010. In it, reference is still made to the Executive Council and the island territory of Curacao, but as… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (IV)

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (III)

The government is not automatically an ‘ordinary’ shareholder It is obvious that in a small community such as that of Curacao, with only a limited choice when it comes to directors and supervisory directors to be appointed, and in which (family, social) networks seem to play an important role in making choices, there is a… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (III)

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (II)

Government (not) at a distance? Being a director of a government-owned company is certainly not always as easy. Neither is being a shareholder in a government-owned company. The directors will usually complain about too much influence from politicians, while the politicians will usually find that they have too little grip on government-owned companies. In this… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (II)

GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (I)

For Hobbes, it is certain that there must be a sovereign According to Thomas Hobbes we all have natural passions that carry us to, among other things, partiality, pride, and revenge. The laws of nature, as Hobbes sees them, including ‘justice’, ‘equity’, ‘modesty’, and ‘mercy’, are contrary to our passions. Therefore, we will only observe… Continue reading GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE (I)

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BAD HABITS

Letter to the editor of The Daily Herald Dear Editor, According to Leroy de Weever (DP), he doesn’t need a Corporate Governance Council to come tell him how to do his job. He wants to disband the Corporate Governance Council as soon as possible. Corporate governance rules were designed to protect companies from politicians, in… Continue reading CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND BAD HABITS

GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVISITED

Where these rules not designed to protect companies from the government? It has been my opinion for many years already that government-owned companies should be kept out of the political sphere as much as possible, so that they may benefit from a commercial, businesslike and market-oriented management. In doing so they also run less of… Continue reading GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REVISITED