Formula for Lasting Change

Formula for Lasting Change

August 1, 2026

Over the past few weeks, I have discussed each element of the Formula for Lasting Change.

Without Need for Change, there is No Action.

Without a Shared Vision, there is No Direction.

Without Management Commitment & Behavior, there are No Role Models.

Without People Involvement, there is No Ownership.

Without Supporting Structures & Processes, there is No Systemic Solution.

Without Performance Measurement, there are No Results.

The inevitable outcome is:

No Lasting Change.

It would be easy to conclude this series by saying that Curaçao currently does not meet the conditions required for sustainable change. But I would rather look ahead than look back.

Recently, I argued that Curaçao needs a moonshot: the ambition to become the cleanest island in the Caribbean, built on a circular economy and a society where integrity is the norm.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Green Wave Curaçao is now being launched. As far as I can tell, the initiative is fundamentally aligned with that same ambition. That raises an interesting question: does this initiative have the ingredients needed for lasting change?

The Need for Change is obvious. Few would disagree that litter, waste management, and protecting our natural environment have become urgent challenges.

A Shared Vision also appears to be within reach. After all, who would not want to live on a clean island where residents take pride in their surroundings?

The real challenge lies in the remaining conditions.

There must be a deliberate focus on Management Commitment & Behavior. But who is "management" in this case? Is it only the government? Or does it also include businesses, civil society organizations, schools, and citizens? Lasting change requires leadership by example from everyone.

People Involvement is equally important. Public campaigns can raise awareness, but real commitment only emerges when people feel that they are co-owners of the change rather than spectators.

The Supporting Structures & Processes are still largely invisible to the outside world. Who is responsible for implementation? How is the programme governed? Who monitors progress and ensures accountability? Without a solid implementation structure, even the best ambitions are unlikely to succeed.

Finally, there is Performance Measurement. Perhaps it already exists in a simple form. The amount of litter collected each week by the Kunuku Man could serve as an indicator. If Green Wave Curaçao is successful, that amount should gradually decline. After all, the ultimate goal is not to collect more waste, but to produce less of it.

The encouraging news is that the conditions for lasting change appear to exist in principle.

But potential alone changes nothing.

Green Wave Curaçao will ultimately have to demonstrate that all the conditions of the Formula for Lasting Change are consciously addressed. Only then will it become more than another campaign. Only then can it become a lasting transformation.

Miguel Goede