WILLEMSTAD – The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) in Curaçao is expanding with the addition of three young Curaçaoan professionals returning from the Netherlands. This personnel increase aims to improve efficiency and enhance the bureau’s services. However, strengthening the CBS is not solely about expanding its workforce; it is also part of a broader reform within the Country Package Curaçao.
The Dutch government plays a coordinating role in implementing fundamental improvements. The latest progress report shows that while significant steps have been taken, crucial projects are facing delays due to financial constraints.
Reforms and Challenges
A key focus is the National Statistical System (NSS), which is intended to provide timely, comprehensive, and reliable statistical data to support policy and decision-making. Several measures are being implemented to achieve this goal. For instance, the CBS has signed agreements with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports (OCWS) to improve data quality.
A new agreement with the tax authorities is also in the pipeline. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop a new Data Dashboard, which would make statistical information more accessible. However, its realization depends on a central database, whose implementation has been delayed due to a lack of funding.
Moreover, integrating education and basic registration data into the CBS database is expected to enhance statistical reporting, but this process is also stalled due to financial constraints.
The legal framework surrounding statistical data is also under review. The statistics ordinance has undergone legal assessment but has yet to be approved by the Council of Ministers. Meanwhile, as the current chair of the Dutch Caribbean Statistical System (DCSS), Curaçao is leading a peer review of the region’s statistical system and exploring ways to formalize this collaboration legally.
Financial Constraints
While these reforms aim to strengthen the CBS and the broader statistical infrastructure, implementation is facing multiple delays. In particular, the lack of funding for crucial licenses is hindering progress on the Data Dashboard and the database. As a result, original deadlines—such as September 2023 for the database and April 2024 for the statistics ordinance—have not been met.