Therapy 3

Therapy 3

July 24, 2026

Our human capital is the key to the development of our island. But if that human capital has been declining for the past twenty years or so, if our education system has been in crisis for years, and if it will take many more years before improvements in education begin to produce results, does that mean we have no chance?

At first glance, it might seem so. It appears just as unlikely as it did ten years ago that Curaçao would ever qualify for the FIFA World Cup. Yet, just as that became possible, we too can make progress much faster than we think.

In my previous blogs, I argued that every country that has achieved remarkable economic and social development has one thing in common: it invested heavily in education and human capital. That remains the only sustainable path forward. But in Curaçao's case, it will take years before those investments begin to bear fruit. So the question is: what do we do in the meantime?

The answer may be closer than we think.

The real question is not only how much human capital we have on the island, but also where that human capital is located. Our shortage of human capital can, to a significant extent, be compensated for by our diaspora. Curaçao has an extraordinarily talented diaspora that is succeeding all over the world. Curaçaoans hold leading positions in business, science, healthcare, technology, and many other fields. Many of them would gladly give something back to the island. They simply need to be asked.

They are not interested in producing reports that end up gathering dust on a shelf. They want their knowledge to be used, their advice to be taken seriously, and, above all, to be implemented. Nor do they need to return to Curaçao to make a meaningful contribution. Thanks to today's technology, they can contribute effectively from anywhere in the world.

When I speak of the diaspora, I use the term in its broadest sense. I am referring not only to Curaçaoans living abroad, but also to people who have lived or worked here and who still feel deeply connected to our island.

This is by no means a new idea. Several countries have deliberately made their diaspora part of their national development strategy. Ireland did so during its economic transformation. Israel has long relied on the knowledge, networks, and investments of its global diaspora. India benefited enormously from its highly skilled IT professionals working around the world. Taiwan, Armenia, and Barbados have also demonstrated that a diaspora is far more than a community of expatriates. They regard it as a strategic development partner.

Why shouldn't Curaçao do the same?

The real challenge lies with us. We must learn how to connect with this knowledge. That requires openness and humility. We need to let go of the belief that we always know best. Our diaspora should not be an occasional advisory group, but a permanent part of Curaçao's development strategy.

Many members of the diaspora also bring international experience, valuable professional networks, and, in many cases, investment capital. They contribute far more than knowledge alone.

Suppose we want to develop our energy sector. Do we know how many Curaçaoans already occupy leadership positions in that industry around the world? Or how many experts we have in artificial intelligence, healthcare, tourism, digital transformation, or climate adaptation? Probably more than we realize. Ask them to contribute. Make use of their international networks. And implement what works.

The therapy, therefore, is not only to invest in education, important as that is. It is also to organize and mobilize our global network of knowledge, experience, and capital. Perhaps Curaçao's greatest natural resource is not what lies beneath our soil or in the surrounding sea, but the human capital of Curaçao spread across the world.

Miguel Goede