The euphoria surrounding Curaçao's participation in the FIFA World Cup is gradually beginning to fade.
And that is perfectly natural.
A nation deserves the opportunity to celebrate its achievements.
For a small island to reach football's biggest stage is an extraordinary accomplishment. Our players achieved something that went far beyond the sport itself. They placed Curaçao on the world map in a way that no marketing campaign could ever accomplish.
That deserves recognition.
To be honest, it would have been surprising if Curaçao had not been officially represented during such a historic moment. International visibility requires presence. Diplomacy, international relations, promotion and economic opportunities are often born precisely where the world comes together.
That is why my question has never been whether Curaçao should have been there.
My question is how that presence was organized and, ultimately, what it delivered for Curaçao.
Good governance begins when the celebration ends.
Yes, it is understandable that government ministers traveled to the United States.
Yes, it makes sense that representatives of our country were present.
But understanding should never become a blank check that replaces transparency.
Public money requires public accountability.
Not because anyone is accusing someone of wrongdoing.
Quite the opposite.
Transparency is precisely what prevents suspicion and removes any appearance of impropriety.
That is why the people deserve a complete picture.
Who traveled?
On what basis were those decisions made?
What public funds were used?
How much was spent on airfare, accommodations, official delegations, promotional activities and receptions?
What portion was paid by the government, and what portion was covered by private sponsors or partners?
Perhaps the most important question of all is this:
What was the business case?
What return did Curaçao expect from these investments?
Because, in the end, that is the language of good governance.
Did the trip generate more tourism?
More foreign investment?
Additional air connections?
New economic partnerships?
Stronger ties with the Curaçao diaspora?
Or will it ultimately be remembered mainly through photographs and historic memories?
These questions are not intended to criticize.
They are the same questions every serious organization asks after making a significant investment.
We are often highly critical when government spending is visible.
A single official trip can trigger intense public debate.
Yet the hundreds of millions of guilders that flow through the national budget every year rarely receive the same level of public scrutiny.
That is remarkable.
A country rarely becomes poorer because a delegation travels abroad.
A country becomes poorer when, year after year, it fails to evaluate whether public spending actually delivers results.
Perhaps that is the real lesson the World Cup has given us.
The discussion should not be whether government officials traveled.
The discussion should be whether, as a society, we are finally ready to embrace a culture in which every public investment is automatically followed by the same four questions:
How much did it cost?
What did it deliver?
What did we learn?
What will we do better next time?
That is where the real challenge lies.
We know how to generate excitement.
We know how to unite around national pride.
We know how to create moments when all of Curaçao feels like one people.
But once the celebration is over, too often the conversation ends.
There is no comprehensive evaluation.
No lessons learned.
No roadmap for improvement.
As a result, success fades almost as quickly as it arrived.
The Blue Wave deserves better.
It deserves a deliberate strategy that connects sports, tourism, the diaspora, education and economic development.
But achieving that requires openness and honesty.
Not because of distrust.
But out of respect for the people who ultimately finance government through their taxes and who are the true owners of the public interest.
During the World Cup, Curaçao showed the world that it can stand proudly on the international stage.
Now the government must demonstrate that it has the same courage to be fully transparent with its own people.
Because that is where good governance truly begins.
Not in celebrating success.
But in having the courage to evaluate it afterward.
Orlando Meulens
Columnist