WILLEMSTAD – During Curaçao’s Flag Day celebrations on July 2, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas unveiled a bold new plan focused on the long-term nation-building of Curaçao, with a special emphasis on revitalizing disadvantaged neighborhoods and expanding opportunities for the island’s youth.
In his speech, Pisas underscored the idea that economic growth without social justice is an illusion. “We cannot celebrate if our people don’t feel the benefits in their daily lives,” he said. The Pisas III Cabinet is preparing to launch a multi-year reconstruction initiative, starting in pilot neighborhoods where the needs are most urgent.
A Focus on Youth and Equity
The plan includes concrete measures to combat poverty, provide after-school programs in sports and the arts, bring preventive healthcare closer to communities, and improve living conditions through affordable housing, clean water access, and renewable energy. Pisas emphasized that youth will be at the center of this initiative. “If we want to build a stronger, fairer, and more stable country, we must start with our young people,” he said.
In addition to neighborhood development, the government aims to further diversify the economy by investing in emerging sectors such as information technology, the creative industries, modern agriculture, and renewable energy. The health care system is also slated for reform, with a focus on reducing wait times and lowering costs.
Pisas called on all citizens to contribute to this national effort by mentoring young people, supporting the elderly, or volunteering in their communities. “Nation-building isn’t just a government responsibility—it’s a collective mission,” he said.
Turning Vision into Action
The concept of nation-building has been part of Curaçao’s policy framework since the 2015–2030 National Development Plan, introduced under then-Prime Minister Ivar Asjes. That vision emphasized national identity, civic participation, and trust in institutions as foundations for sustainable progress. However, the plan remained largely theoretical, with few concrete actions or timelines.
The Pisas III Cabinet, through its 2025–2029 governing program, is now taking that vision a step further—transforming it into a practical policy framework. For the first time, nation-building is being approached as a coordinated strategy that includes neighborhood renewal, poverty reduction, youth engagement, and accessible primary care.
Pisas’ Flag Day address also marked a rhetorical shift. Where past plans used abstract language, the Prime Minister spoke directly to the people—calling for their involvement in building a better Curaçao, block by block, family by family, and mentor by mentor.
Nation-building, he made clear, is no longer just a policy document—it is now a call to action.
