WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao government has formally established a public-private program organization to coordinate the development of Buskabaai for the next five years, bringing four ministries, government-owned companies and private maritime businesses together under a single structure.
The arrangement was formalized through the national decree “Programmatische Maritieme Tafel Buskabaai gebied,” signed on April 24, 2026. The organization has been established for 60 months.
The development plans themselves are not new. Government entities, port companies and the maritime sector have already been studying how Buskabaai could be redeveloped and incorporated into a larger maritime economic zone around the Schottegat. The decree now gives that cooperation a formal administrative structure.
Political oversight will be provided by a steering committee consisting of Minister of Economic Development Roderick Middelhof, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, Minister of Traffic, Transport and Urban Planning Charles Cooper and Minister of Health, Environment and Nature Tyron Boekhoudt.
Middelhof will chair the steering committee and serve as the political and administrative point of contact for economic and operational matters. Cooper will have responsibility for maritime matters, while Boekhoudt will serve as the point of contact for environmental permitting.
The steering committee must meet at least once every quarter, while the operational working group is required to report to it at least once a month.
The working group will include representatives from CDM Holding, Buskabaai NV, 2BAYS Curaçao and Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA), as well as representatives from the four ministries involved.
Two representatives from companies affiliated with the Curaçao Maritime Association (CMAR) will also participate. The decree does not specify that CMAR Chairman Sujit Mathoera himself will sit on the working group.
The organization will coordinate studies and planning involving the possible opening of Buskabaai, redevelopment of the asphalt lake area and restructuring of surrounding industrial properties belonging to CDM Holding, Buskabaai NV and 2BAYS.
It will also identify investment opportunities, coordinate projects, encourage public-private cooperation and report obstacles to the government.
Funding will come through the Ministry of Economic Development, while the organization may also seek financing through the Landspakket, European funds, public-private financing arrangements and contributions from private parties.
The establishment of the five-year structure marks a new phase for Buskabaai by moving the project from a collection of studies and development concepts toward a formally coordinated program involving both government and industry.