THE HAGUE – Curaçao must first demonstrate clear political and administrative commitment to ongoing reforms before discussions can take place about extending its reform cooperation agreement with the Netherlands, according to an independent evaluation presented during the Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (IPKO).
Maria van der Sluijs-Plantz, chairwoman of the Evaluation Committee for the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms, presented the findings of the committee's review of the reform process in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The committee concluded that while tangible progress has been achieved in all three countries, Curaçao faces a crucial challenge: creating clarity about its own priorities, ownership and commitment to the reform agenda.
According to the evaluation, Curaçao should use the remaining period of the current arrangement to focus on a limited number of priorities and strengthen administrative leadership. The committee stressed that the country must first establish both internal and external clarity regarding the direction of the reform process before engaging in discussions about a possible continuation of the agreement.
The findings come after several years of reforms carried out under agreements reached between the Netherlands and the Caribbean countries following the COVID-19 pandemic. The reforms were linked to financial support provided by the Netherlands and were formalized through country packages and the Mutual Arrangement for Cooperation on Reforms.
The committee noted that one of the challenges facing Curaçao is the broad and ambitious nature of the reform agenda. According to the evaluation, the number of reforms often exceeds the implementation capacity available within government institutions.
“The reform agenda is too extensive in relation to the countries' ability to absorb and implement the reforms,” Van der Sluijs-Plantz told parliamentarians.
The evaluation also found that Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten should not be treated as a single category when it comes to reform policies. Each country has different institutional capacities, priorities and circumstances.
At the same time, the committee acknowledged that important results have been achieved through cooperation with the Temporary Work Organization (TWO), which provides technical support and expertise to assist the reform process. According to the report, cooperation between TWO and senior civil servants has strengthened working relationships and improved trust at the administrative level.
However, the committee warned that many reforms remain in the implementation stage and have not yet been permanently embedded within government structures.
As a result, Curaçao is being urged to concentrate on a smaller number of key reforms while strengthening political ownership and administrative coordination. The committee recommended that the government establish greater clarity on its reform direction no later than the second quarter of the current extension period.
The findings are expected to play an important role in future discussions between Curaçao and the Netherlands regarding the continuation of reform cooperation beyond the current agreement.