We Can’t Let It Go 15 May 2026 It is not simply because the new prime minister of the Netherlands happened to be visiting here, but over the past few days, I have noticed more and more how slavery, the colonial past, and the relationship between Willemstad and The Hague keep returning as topics of conversation and writing. It feels as though these themes are starting to dominate everything. Whether the subject is football or poverty reduction, the same frame keeps comin

Appointments 14 May 2026 I am waiting at the inspection office for my new inspection card. According to the thermometer in my car, it is 37 degrees outside. I can believe it, but that is not what I want to talk about now. In my view, there is quite a lot happening at the moment around appointments to important positions. The clearest example is the appointment of a new national team coach. It illustrates something I think matters: results do not depend only on a person’s qual

Monday, May 11, 2026 May 11, 2026 I was up early. Not because I had to attend the CINEX coffee morning, but simply because I had a short night. I had actually already decided to skip that first meeting because the agenda seemed packed. After helping all my clients online, I got ready and still headed to the gathering. The vibe was quite good. A former student gave a TED-style talk about what the Curaçao mission to Silicon Valley had achieved. If we really want to do somet

Between Pride and Unease May 10, 2026 May 10 was Mother’s Day. Tomorrow, May 11, marks exactly one month until the opening of the FIFA World Cup. Curaçao made history by qualifying, yet the island seems far from ready for what lies ahead. In recent days, the discussion has mainly focused on the possible return of Dick Advocaat as national team coach. Apparently, that is the wish of sponsors, some players, and parts of the Dutch media. It is emotionally exhausting. I

Hantavirus May 9, 2026 From May 6 onward, the first cases were reported. After that, it moved faster than I expected. I was in shock and said nothing. My trainer at the gym asked me when I would finally write about it. Of course, our collective trauma from COVID-19 immediately resurfaces. We never truly recovered from it. Hardly had the pandemic ended before the war in Ukraine began. Meanwhile, islands like ours have become increasingly dependent on tourism. Let us hope

Overweight and Prevention May 8, 2026 Yesterday I did not write. I was traveling, but that was not the reason. I notice that many people are finally speaking out about the uncontrolled construction boom linked to investments, especially in tourism, and the consequences for young people and low-income families. Education and youth issues are also receiving more attention. That matters. I only hope this attention does not disappear once the public debate moves on. In a mo

Concrete Is Not Development May 6, 2026 This statement takes on a particular meaning in light of the island's construction boom. Today, I was prompted by reports about the opening of the new building of the National Laboratory ADC. Former minister Whiteman also used this statement regularly in the context of the new hospital. He consistently emphasized that the concrete of a new hospital does not equate to an improvement in the quality of care; that is primarily determined

May 5th Is Liberation Day. Also in Curaçao. 5 May 2026 May 5th is Liberation Day. In Curaçao, too, we mark the end of the Second World War. The island was not a bystander; it played a role, and YdK soldiers lost their lives. That awareness is growing. Rightly so. At the same time, we increasingly celebrate peace in the spirit of UNESCO. Much of that is due to the Committee for Peace, which organizes annual gatherings at the Peace Square. That matters. But it also raises

Too late, the calf has already drowned May 4, 2026 It is becoming increasingly clear. Last week, residents of Julianadorp were in the news. They requested information about the building permits for 25 luxury homes in their neighborhood. Today I read that residents of Jan Thiel and Brakkeput are doing the same regarding the 244 pod homes. I also see that objections have been raised against The Wharf West Curaçao. The objections are now following each other in rapid success

The Era of Madness May 3, 2026 I have written before about how our thinking has eroded—how those now in power often act on the basis of shallow reasoning. On this Sunday morning, I find myself returning to that thought. And yet, the day feels positive. Hopeful, even. The tall ships in the harbor do something to a person. It is hard to explain, but they always bring a certain sense of joy. That feeling stands in sharp contrast to the government’s letter to the Presiden

The Erosion of Labour Day May 2, 2026 Last night, I took stock. The day has further eroded. What will stay with me is that Caracasbaai was overcrowded. That, in itself, was not even the main problem. As many as six to eight jet skis were operating beyond the buoys that separate the swimming area from boat traffic. It says a lot about the erosion of our behavior. But I will return to that another time. The erosion of May 1 is not new. It began with the passing of Mgr. Am

Then It Seems to Go Quiet Again About Poverty 30 April 2026 Then it seems to go quiet again about poverty. While the data and signals keep accumulating, the issue repeatedly fades into the background—until the next study, the next report, or the next political statement. Recently, I came across an article on poverty in the Caribbean Netherlands. It shows that roughly one-third of the population lives below the poverty line and that the overall level of education is rela

The Age of Madness April 29, 2026 Titles like The Age of Uncertainty and The Age of Unreason are not new. Authors such as Galbraith have used them before. Whether “The Age of Madness” is original, I do not know. But it does feel appropriate. I am not referring to the madness of the day. Nor to simple nonsense. I am referring to decisions of such scale and consequence that they demand deep thinking — and where that thinking increasingly seems absent. We see, for exampl

Saying we want brain gain and actually doing something about it are two different things April 27, 2026 On Friday, April 24, I spoke at the office with a young colleague who has actually returned to the islands. We didn’t go into much depth — something for a follow-up conversation. But the Career Orientation Days in the Netherlands did come up. They were taking place as we spoke. I had the opportunity to attend the first three to five editions as a manager at a Big Six

Agriculture as a New Economic Sector 25 April 2026 After economists recently highlighted agriculture and food security as key themes, a notable development followed just days later: a visit by the Prime Minister and the Ministers of VVRP and Finance to the Director of the World Bank, and former Prime Minister, Rhuggenaath. As an aside, he previously faced strong opposition from the current governing party and was afterward unable to find meaningful employment on the isl

Curaçao 2050 24 April 2026 From my work, I see more and more societies developing long-term visions toward 2050. Fortunately, Curaçao is not lagging behind. Recently, I participated in a session with international consultants, presumably from the United Nations Development Programme, who are working on an update of the National Development Plan. So far, that plan seems to have remained largely a paper reality. The group I participated in consisted of people with an af

Growing Old in Curaçao April 23, 2026 A few days ago, I was interviewed by a student working on her master’s thesis about elderly policy in Curaçao. Her questions brought me back to the core issue: we have long known what is happening, but are we acting on it? Curaçao is ageing rapidly, like many islands in the region. People are living longer. Young people are leaving—and not returning. They are also having fewer children. Yet this development receives surprisingly l

Inner Restlessness – Inner Calm 22 April 2026 Do others feel this, too? You can’t quite name it or place it. You feel restless. The rising heat bothers you, but that’s not the reason. At least, not the only one. Traffic is just one factor. Prices keep going up. The uncertainty about what’s still to come, partly because of wars elsewhere. And the absence of a clear story from politics. You’re not quite sure what to do. So you withdraw some extra cash. Put together an

Wat is het? Wie de jeugd heeft, heeft de toekomst? (What is it? Whoever has the youth, has the future?) 21 April 2026 “Wie de jeugd heeft, heeft de toekomst” (“Whoever has the youth has the future”). Or is it: “De jeugd ís de toekomst” (“The youth is the future”)? However you look at it, youth and future are inextricably linked. In my early years as a scenario builder, I approached things in a very complicated way. Until the insight came that the future was simply sitti

Kon ta ku’bo? April 19, 2026 Years ago, when I moved into a student flat, I stepped into the elevator on my way to class. Back home, in Curaçao, we greet everyone: “Good morning.” Silence. Everyone looked at me as if something was wrong with me. I immediately understood: this was not normal in the Netherlands at the time. In Curaçao, it is customary to greet everyone you encounter in public—especially if you know each other. In the past, you would also ask how things