Consultation sessions and preparation of ESF-10 

WILLEMSTAD - In the week of May 22, 2023, the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) organized two days of consultation with its stakeholders in the framework of disaster and crisis preparedness. During these two days of consultation, MEO, together with its stakeholders, reached concrete agreements on how to communicate and what actions each stakeholder should take during a disaster or crisis, especially in the economic sector. The focus of these meetings was on stakeholders in the areas of tourism, hotels, ports, airports, commerce, hospitality, business owners in flood-prone areas, financial services, logistics, agriculture, and fisheries. 

These meetings were organized as part of MEO's role as Emergency Support Function (ESF) 10 in crisis situations in Curaçao. Curaçao has a Crisis Management and Disaster Response Organization (CRBO) responsible for coordinating and mitigating the effects of a crisis or disaster. Curaçao's CRBO consists of 10 different ESFs, each assigned to a specific sector/area in case of a disaster or crisis. For example, ESF 1 is responsible for Water and Energy, ESF 4 is responsible for Search and Rescue, and ESF 7 is responsible for Social Affairs, including the management of shelters in case of a disaster. MEO/ESF 10 takes care of the economic aspect during a disaster or crisis in Curaçao. ESF-10 involves activities such as communication with sectors, facilitating the evacuation of tourists, coordinating measures to help entrepreneurs recover through financial and support instruments, facilitating logistics in ports through exemptions or temporary decrees, regulating prices of essential products, and more. 

Part of the ESF 10 group

ESF-10, together with its stakeholders, must come up with necessary adaptations during a crisis or disaster to protect our economic sector as much as possible and minimize the impact of the situation. After the crisis or disaster, ESF-10 helps coordinate the economic recovery of our country as quickly as possible. As Minister Cijntje indicated during the opening of the first day of consultations earlier this week, "There's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst." 

Throughout the year, there will be meetings and activities to ensure that ESF-10, along with its stakeholders and the Crisis Organization as a whole, is as well-prepared as possible in the event of a disaster or crisis. 

Considering that we are entering the hurricane season of 2023 on June 1st, meetings like these are of utmost importance to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction and to discuss and plan actions in case of a disaster or crisis. 

If there are companies or organizations in need of support, they can contact ESF-10 via email at esf10@kalamidat.cw or send a message through the Ministry of Economic Development's Facebook page.