The Implementation Gap

The Implementation Gap

22 September 2026

On 13 September 2026, I wrote about the implementation gap in Curaçao and Bonaire.

I referred to the NDP (National Development Plan) and the climate plan, which, after being adopted, are hardly mentioned, let alone implemented.

Two articles in the Antilliaans Dagblad of 22 September 2026 almost seem like a response to what I wrote. They are: “New phase in economic growth strategy; Curaçao updates its national development plan” and “Five interconnected themes”.

What I found interesting was the explanation of the 2006 plan, developed as Curaçao moved towards becoming an autonomous country in 2010, the NDP 2015–2030, and its connection with the SDGs. The plan focused on five themes: education, the economy, sustainability, national identity, and good governance.

I quote: “This acknowledged a fundamental problem of long-term planning: a plan has little meaning if there is no organisational structure, no clear responsibilities, measurable objectives, and resources to implement it.”

Meanwhile, reality has changed, and the UNDP is on the island to update the programme towards 2030. Presentations have been made to the Council of Ministers, and the hope is that things will improve. It resembles the story of the Country Package (Landspakket), which was recently extended by the Netherlands for another two years in the hope that implementation will now move forward.

I quote: “The challenge for the coming years is therefore not simply to produce another impressive document. The real question is how an updated NDP can be translated into clear priorities, concrete programmes, responsibilities, financing, and measurable results.”

The point is: if we produce a new plan but do not change the way we work and implement it, why should the outcome be any different this time?

Miguel Goede