GEORGETOWN, WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao intends to strengthen its disaster preparedness and regional emergency cooperation through participation in Caribbean Community programs and specialized institutions.
The plans are described in the explanatory memorandum accompanying the treaty establishing Curaçao's associate membership in CARICOM.
Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas during a CARICOM meeting in 2025
The document identifies disaster management as one of the policy areas in which Curaçao hopes to develop closer regional cooperation.
A key institution within CARICOM's network is the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), which supports cooperation on disaster risk management and emergency response in the region.
Access to Regional Knowledge and Cooperation
According to the memorandum, CARICOM's specialized institutions provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, policy coordination and capacity building.
For Curaçao, participation in regional disaster management initiatives could offer access to expertise and cooperation mechanisms involving other Caribbean countries.
The government considers this particularly relevant as it seeks to strengthen its regional position and participate more actively in collective initiatives.
CARICOM's institutional network also includes meteorological organizations and agencies addressing public health and environmental concerns.
These organizations provide a regional framework through which countries and territories can exchange information and coordinate activities in specialized areas.
However, the memorandum does not state that Curaçao has automatically become a participating state of CDEMA or obtained access to all of its operational services.
Such participation may depend on additional arrangements and the rules governing individual institutions.
Government Coordination Still Required
The government intends to develop an administrative structure to coordinate its involvement in CARICOM programs.
The proposed arrangements include an operational unit for CARICOM affairs, local personnel and representatives, and a strategic cooperation plan.
Disaster management is specifically identified as one of the areas that the new structure would help coordinate.
The memorandum does not announce new emergency equipment, a disaster management budget or specific operational agreements with CDEMA.
It also does not establish a timetable for Curaçao's participation in particular disaster management programs.
Nevertheless, the treaty provides a framework for closer cooperation with regional institutions.
For Curaçao, the next step will be determining which initiatives can provide practical benefits and what commitments are necessary to participate effectively.