WILLEMSTAD - In an effort to ensure the continuation of the 75-year-old Curaçao Animal Protection Foundation (SDBC), the board, chaired by Maria Garcia, has decided to step down to make way for new board members. Faced with significant challenges, the previous board found it best to resign and transfer their duties to a new group of board members.
An agreement was made for the current board to stay on until a new board is ready to take over and to facilitate a smooth transition of responsibilities and documentation to the new board. Several candidates have since approached the Supervisory Board, consisting of Eric Bokkes, Frans Heiligers, and Herbert van der Woude. The prospective board members have been thoroughly briefed on the current state of affairs within and around the Animal Protection Foundation. Work is currently underway to address the administrative matters associated with the transition to a new board. After coordinating with all parties involved, preparations are being made for a responsible handover.
An interim board has been appointed to manage ongoing affairs and address the issues surrounding the shelter in Parera. The interim board members are Laura van Dijk, Suzanne de Lavalette, and Shadiah Elhage. Discussions are still ongoing with two other candidates. They will formalize the distribution of board functions among themselves.
According to the Supervisory Board, this change in board leadership will not impede any externally funded projects. These include neighborhood programs for sterilizing and chipping animals, providing education in schools to teach youth the importance of animal welfare, and informing the community on how to care for their pets and animals in general.